Expected Academic Progress (EAP) and Estimated Major GPA

What is the speedometer-like "gauge" on my PolyProfile, and what does it indicate?

This gauge indicates your academic progress according to the Expected Academic Progress (EAP) policy (see next FAQ). The red zone of the gauge indicates the percentage of the degree-applicable units that you are expected to have completed at this moment in time. The green zone indicates the remaining percentage of degree-applicable units to be completed. The needle points to the percentage of degree-applicable units that you have actually completed to date as well as those units that you are currently registered in. This percentage is also indicated numerically on the bottom of the gauge.

If the needle is resting on the red zone, this means that you are behind where you are expected to be, and you are "off track". If the needle is on the green zone or on the black line separating the red and the green zones, you are ahead or exactly where you are expected to be in your academic progress, and you are "on track".

What is the Expected Academic Progress (EAP) policy?

EAP is a policy implemented in Fall 2010. It applies to all undergraduate students (first-years and transfers) who were admitted as of Fall 2010. EAP is defined as making appropriate degree progress each academic year by earning a specified number of degree-applicable units that meet major, support, general education, concentration, and free elective (if applicable) requirements of your declared major.

This policy is designed to help you graduate on time and to provide you with the support that you need along the way. You may find the complete policy in the Cal Poly Catalog.

Why am I not seeing a gauge?

The Academic Progress portion of PolyProfile is intended for undergraduate students to assist in measuring the progress towards a degree. You will see your Academic Progress gauge appear here during your first enrollment term.

Students who are in a Blended program; graduate program; have completed their undergraduate degree; or those who have a status of Discontinued or Dismissed will not be able to view the information contained in the Academic Progress section or obtain a Degree Progress Report.

Why do I see a gauge when I am a Postbaccalaureate Graduate student?

You may see a gauge as a Postbaccalaureate Graduate student if you were a Cal Poly undergraduate student when the gauge was last updated. For example, students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree or are now in a Blended program may continue to see a gauge. The gauge will disappear the next time it is updated.

How often is my academic progress updated on my PolyProfile?

The gauge that you see on your PolyProfile is updated three times each academic year:

1. Once during the period between the last day to add/drop for the Fall term and the first day of registration for the Winter term.
2. Once during the period between the last day to add/drop for the Winter term and the first day of registration for the Spring term.
3. Once during the period between the last day to add/drop for the Spring term and the first day of registration for the Summer/Fall terms.

How much academic progress am I expected to make each term/year?

New first-year students are expected to complete 20% of their degree-applicable units by the end of their first year, 45% by the end of their second year, 75% by the end of their third year, and 100% by the end of their fourth year.

For transfer and former returning students, it's 55% by the end of their first year, 80% by the end of their second year, and 100% by the end of their third year. As an example, a new first-year student who is in a major that requires 180 units to graduate will have to complete 36 units (20% of 180) by the end of their first year at Cal Poly.

Students enrolled in a five-year degree (e.g., BArch, BLA) are expected to complete 20% of their degree-applicable units by the end of their first year, 40% by the end of their second year, 60% by the end of their third year, 80% by the end of their fourth year, and 100% by the end of their fifth year.

In short, the Expected Academic Progress (EAP) policy expects that you make certain progress towards your degree by the end of each academic year. However, if you make little or no progress during a given term without a reasonable excuse or a prior notification to your advisor, your college may contact you based on the fact that it will now be more difficult for you to reach your expected progress by the end of that academic year.

How is the numerical value of my academic progress calculated?

The number that you see on the bottom of the gauge is the percentage value of your actual academic progress level. It is calculated by dividing the total number of degree-applicable units (completed and in-progress) by the total number of units required for your major. The Degree Progress Report (DPR) is used to verify that the number of units completed constitute degree-applicable units.

What if I would like to declare a minor or a second major?

Expected Academic Progress (EAP) only applies to your first declared major. This may be the major you have originally declared upon admission to Cal Poly or the major that you have successfully changed to after your admission. In other words, the Academic Progress gauge will only track your progress in your original major and not the progress you are making towards your minor or your second major, if any. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make adequate degree progress towards your original major regardless of any additional academic workload you may have.

Do you use my Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or transfer credits when you calculate my academic progress?

Yes. As long as these credits satisfy one or more of your degree requirements, they are included in the calculation of your academic progress.

What happens if I am "off track"?

If you are off track, you are considered EAP (Expected Academic Progress) deficient and will be required to meet with your advisor to review and discuss your academic progress. Together, you will create a reasonable academic plan to get back on track. Depending on your college, you may be required to meet with your advisor at the end of the term or the academic year that you were deficient.

What if I am trying to change my major?

Those students who have entered into an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA) are still expected to make reasonable degree progress in their current major until they are officially accepted into the other major.

What if I am attending Cal Poly part-time?

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to attend Cal Poly part-time for serious and compelling reasons (e.g., financial, health), please contact your advisor to discuss your options and get their help to draft a reasonable academic plan.

What if I am a student athlete?

Student athletes whose academic progress is governed by NCAA regulations must continue to follow those guidelines. However, once a student is no longer officially participating in Cal Poly NCAA athletics, they are subject to the Expected Academic Progress (EAP) policy.

What if I am studying abroad?

If you'd like to participate in a study abroad program, keep in mind that you are still expected to make adequate degree progress as indicated in the policy. With careful planning, and depending on your major, the units you earn at a study abroad program can be used as degree-applicable units (i.e., units that apply to your major, support, GE, concentration, and/or free elective requirements). Therefore, you should carefully draft your study abroad plans in advance in consultation with the Cal Poly International Center and your major advisor.

What if I skip attending Cal Poly for one or two terms?

You will be expected to make up the deficiency during the term(s) that you have not attended. See your advisor as soon as you can to create a reasonable academic plan to get back on track.

What are some ways that I can get back on track if I am behind my Expected Academic Progress?

We recommend that you work with your advising center to determine strategies for getting back on track. Attending summer session, either at Cal Poly, at a community college, or another regionally accredited institution may be a good option for you to make up the deficiency from the previous academic year. You will need to consult with your advisor to make sure that the courses you plan to take at another institution will meet your Cal Poly degree requirements. If you plan to attend a California community college, refer to the ASSIST database information on the Office of the Registrar website.

What if I have completed some of my coursework at another college, but my transcripts have not yet been sent to and/or evaluated by Cal Poly?

Keep in mind that your transfer work may or may not satisfy your Cal Poly degree requirements. Therefore, have your official transcripts sent to Cal Poly as soon as they are ready. In the meantime, meet with your advisor and tell them what course(s) you have taken at the other institution(s). Your advisor will help guide you away from Cal Poly courses that may be equivalents of your transfer work and advise you how to make degree progress while your transfer work is being evaluated.

Are there exceptions to the Expected Academic Progress (EAP) Policy?

Students who have to comply with an externally imposed set of degree progress standards (e.g., student athletes) must continue to follow those guidelines. Other students for whom the Expected Academic Progress policy represents undue hardship may appeal for exemption through their advisors. Such appeals should be supported with official documentation as appropriate. Please see your college advising center for more information.

What is major GPA?

Major GPA is a Cal Poly graduation requirement. Every undergraduate student must have a 2.00 in their Cal Poly Cumulative GPA, their Higher Education GPA, and their Major GPA at the time of graduation. More information can be found in the Cal Poly Catalog.

Major GPA is the average of graded units and their associated grade points in all coursework used toward your major and concentration (if applicable). If you have technical electives, approved electives, etc. as part of your major, those courses are also used to calculate your major GPA.

Courses NOT used to calculate the major GPA:

• Courses in support are not used to calculate your major GPA.
• If you have repeated a major course and received grade forgiveness (noted by “Exclude All: Within Policy” on the course), the forgiven grade is not factored into your major GPA.

Why am I seeing this in my PolyProfile?

A 2.000 major GPA is a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. The estimated major GPA is displayed in PolyProfile so all undergraduate students can track this requirement and take action should they approach the threshold of 2.000.

Why is my major GPA "estimated"? Can I rely on this GPA to be accurate?

In most cases, this GPA is accurate and will enable you to plan for this graduation requirement with help from your advisor. However, the estimated major GPA is not to be considered official.

Occasions when the estimated major GPA is not accurate include:

• If you are repeating a major course for grade forgiveness in the current term. Because the calculation does not yet know what grade you will earn (that is, whether you will be eligible for grade forgiveness), it cannot be 100% precise. Once you repeat the major course, the following term’s calculation might be higher or lower than what you see now. If you are close to graduation and are repeating a major course for grade forgiveness, please see your advisor.
• If you have completed more units in an elective area (technical electives, approved electives, etc.) than are required, the calculation might not be 100% correct.

Again, the purpose of the estimated major GPA is to allow all undergraduate students to monitor this graduation requirement and take action if they are in danger of not achieving a 2.000—not to serve as an official GPA calculation.

You can calculate your own projection of your major GPA by using the GPA Calculator. However, you should see an advisor if you are nearing graduation and the GPA you see is close to or below 2.000.

What are the timing considerations of my estimated major GPA? How often is it updated?

Like your Expected Academic Progress gauge, your estimated major GPA will update once per term, around the same time as the EAP gauge update.

If you receive a grade change for a prior Incomplete (I) or Report in Progress (RP) grade in a major course after the current term’s update, that grade change will be reflected in the next term’s update (even though you will see the grade change reflected below on the course itself).

Similarly, transfer credit, study abroad credit, and any substitutions for major courses processed after each term’s update will be reflected in the following term’s update. If you declare a concentration after the current term’s update, any concentration courses you completed prior to that will not affect your major GPA until the next term’s update.

What if I have exhausted my units of grade forgiveness and have retaken major courses that received grade averaging?

Courses in which grade averaging occurred (as denoted by “Exclude Earned” on the course) are factored into the estimated major GPA.

What do I do if I think the calculation is wrong?

If your major GPA is not in any danger of being close to a 2.000, there is no need to worry. Major GPA does not show anywhere else but in your PolyProfile. We are simply displaying it to alert any students whose major GPA may fall below 2.00 as graduation approaches. The purpose of the estimated major GPA is to help you plan so you can avoid that danger.

I want a higher major GPA to display in my PolyProfile next term, and I have taken some elective courses with higher grades. Will the Office of the Registrar move around or swap elective courses to boost my major GPA?

The Office of the Registrar is unable to move around courses to boost the estimated major GPA shown in your PolyProfile. Major GPA does not show on your official transcript, nor on the unofficial transcript you can order through your Student Center. Again, this GPA is provided solely for the purpose of ensuring that you meet the minimum standard for this graduation requirement.

I am a double major. Which major GPA is shown in my PolyProfile?

The estimated major GPA only uses your primary major. The major GPA for your secondary major will have to be hand-calculated. If you have questions, please see your advisor.

What if I change my major, or I am already in the process of changing my major?

The major GPA is calculated for the major you are in at the time of the GPA update each term. If you receive the email informing you that your Individualized Change of Major Agreement (ICMA) has been approved AFTER the GPA update for the term, your GPA in the new major will not display until the following term's update.

I am a Blended student. How does that affect what I see here?

Your major GPA will be frozen as of the last term that you were in undergraduate status. Once you transition to graduate standing, your major GPA will no longer update (in the same way that your EAP gauge no longer updates once you have transitioned to graduate standing).