Navigating the UHD GPA Calculator: A Comprehensive Guide

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is an important measure of a student's academic achievement at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, understanding how your GPA is calculated and used is crucial for academic success. This guide provides a detailed overview of the UHD GPA system, including calculation methods, policies, and related academic regulations.

Understanding the Basics of UHD GPA

At the University of Houston, grade point averages are calculated using a 4.0 quality-point scale. This means that each letter grade you receive in a course corresponds to a specific numerical value. The GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester credit hours attempted in courses that receive letter grades.

GPA Calculation

To calculate your GPA, you need to:

Determine the grade points for each course: Multiply the grade point value of the letter grade by the number of credit hours for the course.
Sum the grade points: Add up the grade points for all courses.
Sum the credit hours: Add up the total number of semester credit hours for all courses with letter grades.
Divide: Divide the total grade points by the total credit hours.

For example, if a student earns an A (4.0) in a 3-credit-hour course and a B (3.0) in a 4-credit-hour course, the GPA is calculated as follows:

(4. 0 * 3) + (3.0 * 4) = 12 + 12 = 24 grade points
3 + 4 = 7 credit hours
24 / 7 = 3.43 GPA

Types of GPA

UHD calculates different types of GPAs depending on the student's enrollment level and grading method:

Read also: Decoding the 5.0 GPA Scale

Undergraduate GPA: Calculated using all letter-graded undergraduate courses taken at the University of Houston. Each course’s credit hours determine its weight in GPA calculations. All graded course attempts at the University of Houston are included in GPA calculations.
Graduate GPA: Calculated on the same 4.0 scale as undergraduate GPA. Only letter-graded graduate coursework is included. Some graduate programs use S/U grading, which does not contribute to GPA.

Transfer coursework may count toward degree requirements but does not factor into the University of Houston GPA.

Grades and Their Impact on GPA

Various grades can appear on your academic transcript, but not all affect your GPA. Here's a breakdown:

Letter Grades (A, B, C, D, F): These grades are used to calculate your GPA. Each letter grade has a corresponding numerical value.
Incomplete (I): An "I" grade is given only when students have completed a significant portion of the course requirements and a documented emergency prevent the student from completing the remaining course requirements. Before an instructor can assign a grade of I, they must file with, and get approved from, their department chair. This approval is documented by a form signed by both the instructor and the student that describes the necessary work that can be submitted before the deadlines described below.
- Fall Semester: If the incomplete grade was assigned during the Fall semester, the grade of I will be changed to either the grade earned based on the assignments submitted before the end of the subsequent Spring term.
- Spring Semester and Summer Term: If the incomplete grade was assigned during the Spring semester or a Summer term, the grade of I will be changed to grade earned based on the assignments submitted before the end of the subsequent Fall term.
- Military Leave: Students who have received I grades because their enrollment has been interrupted by active military duty in the United States military must complete the missing work within one year from the conclusion of those duties. It is the responsibility of the student to provide official documentation of their required duties to the Office of Veterans Affairs and to the Office of the Registrar.
- Title IX Medical Leave: In compliance with Title IX, students with applicable leave designation may complete outstanding coursework within one long semester after the expiration of the leave. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a supporting statement to the Title IX coordinator and to the Office of the Registrar. If the student does not complete the outstanding coursework within one long semester after the expiration of the leave, the student’s grade will remain indefinitely I, unless the student decides to accept the grade earned in the class.
In Progress (IP): A grade of IP may be assigned only in courses that have been officially approved for such designation. The grade of IP is used primarily in thesis and selected research courses in which a student is registered in order to use university resources. In calculating the GPA, a grade of IP receives no grade point value and it may remain on a student’s transcript in perpetuity.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U): A grade of S/U may be assigned only in courses that have been officially approved for such designation.
Withdrawal (W): The grade of W is assigned when a student drops a course after the census date.
Audit (AUD): To audit a course is to enroll and participate in a course on a noncredit basis. Audit students pay the regular tuition and all other applicable fees as set for the current academic year. A change to credit status may not be made after the student has registered to audit a course. Students must obtain approval from the instructor of the course and from the registrar’s office before they may audit a course. Students can only audit a course if there are seats available. Students taking a course for credit have priority in registration over students auditing a course. Students auditing a course do not submit work for grades. Changes from credit status to audit status in a course must be made prior to the end of twelfth day of classes in a long semester or the end of the third day in a summer, winter or May session. A Request to Audit form must be processed in the Registrar’s Office by the Official Day of Record for the appropriate term along with Instructor approval. Students wishing to audit courses should contact the Registrar’s Office for further details.

Grades of I, IP, S, U, and W do not affect your GPA.

Repeating Courses

At UHD, undergraduate students may enroll in a course no more than three times. If a course is repeated, only the highest grade earned at UHD will be used in computing the grade point average. This policy can help students improve their GPA by replacing a lower grade with a higher one.

GPA and Academic Standing

Your GPA affects your academic standing at UHD. Maintaining a satisfactory GPA is essential to avoid academic probation, suspension, or dismissal.

Read also: Understanding ASU Tuition

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation at the end of any term in which his or her cumulative UHD GPA falls below 2.0. The cumulative UHD GPA for academic probation is computed on grades earned at UHD. Grades of I, IP, S or W are not counted. Students on probation must maintain a UHD term GPA of 2.0 or above in each term in which they are enrolled until their cumulative UHD GPA reaches 2.0 or above. Students on academic probation will be placed on continued probation at the end of any term in which they fail to earn a minimum term GPA of 2.0. Failure to earn a term GPA of 2.0 or above while on continued probation status will result in academic suspension.

Academic Suspension and Dismissal

Suspension means that a student is ineligible to register or remain in classes. Any registered coursework for the next term will be administratively dropped by the Records Office. A student’s suspension is in effect for that term, pending readmission. The student may appeal the suspension to the student’s academic dean or the dean’s designated representative. For an appeal, students must provide clear and compelling evidence of potential academic success, for example, academic success at other institutions. If a student’s appeal is approved, the student will be placed on extended probation. The student must meet with a dean’s representative or designated advisor to discuss how to improve their academic performance and make satisfactory academic progress. The student may be required to agree to a contract of actions likely to result in improved academic performance. Students must maintain a term GPA of 2.0 or above in each term they register until achieve a cumulative UHD GPA of 2.0. Failure to maintain a term GPA of 2.0 will result in academic dismissal from the university.

Graduate students face similar consequences for low GPAs. In many graduate programs, average or poor work (i.e., grade of C or below) may lead to probation, suspension, or dismissal. A Graduate student who receives grades of “C” in 9 or more graduate semester credit hours is subject to dismissal. Some programs may have more stringent requirements so refer to your program handbook. In addition, a grade of “D” or “F” in a graduate course is grounds for dismissal from any graduate program.

Dean's List

The Dean’s List recognizes students who have achieved superior academic performance during the fall or spring semester. To be included on the Dean’s List for a specific semester, a student must, during that semester, complete at least nine semester hours of college-level work, earn at least a 3.5 grade point average, and receive no grade of I or F.

Appealing a Grade

If a student believes a course grade to be in error (i.e., if it appears to be a miscalculation, or if it appears that grade was not calculated and/or evaluated according to the course instructor’s syllabus), they a student may file an appeal by proceeding in the following sequence: (1) appeal first to the course instructor, (2) if the appeal is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, then appeal to the appropriate department chair, (3) the final level of appeal would be to the appropriate dean. Appeals must be submitted in writing. Students bear the responsibility by providing documentation related to the grade appeal. If the appeal reaches the chair or dean and it is determined that there is evidence of a grading error, the chair or dean will consult with the course instructor before making a final decision. When the appealed grade is from a course that is housed in multidisciplinary or multi- college program, all appeals will be handled within the course’s home department and college. A change of course grade initiated by the instructor must be approved by the home department chair within one calendar year after the close of the semester in which the grade was received.

Read also: GPA Calculation at UAB

If an appeal is not made within one calendar year after the close of the semester in which the grade was received, the grade will be considered final and no appeal will be heard.

Additional Academic Policies and Resources

UHD has numerous academic policies and resources to support students.

Academic Honesty

The Academic Honesty Code is embraced by all members of the University of Houston-Downtown academic community and is an essential element of the institution’s academic credibility. The Honesty Code states “We will be honest in all our academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.” The purpose of the Academic Honesty Policy is to deal with alleged violations of the Honesty Code in a fair and consistent manner. The policy is administered jointly by students and faculty. It is each student’s responsibility to read and understand the Academic Honesty Policy.

Course Load

Maximum course loads are established to encourage students to think carefully about the amount of time they will need to devote to each class. A standard undergraduate course load during the fall and spring terms is 15 to 16 semester credit hours, or five courses. All graduate students at UHD are subject to all UHD policies and the requirements stated in their graduate program handbook. A full-time graduate course load during the fall and spring terms is 9 semester credit hours, or 8 semester credit hours for MBA students. For students who are employed 40 hours per week, the recommended load is two courses, or 6 graduate credit hours. Depending on the program, the regular load for one combined summer session (9 weeks) is 3-6 credit hours. Students who wish to enroll in more than the recommended course load must seek approval from their program director.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions.

Dropping a Course

The responsibility for dropping a course lies with the student. Students will not receive a grade for a course if they drop the course by the Official Day of Record (see Academic Calendar).Students automatically receive a grade of W for any course they drop after the Official Day of Record up to the drop/withdrawal deadline as listed in the online Academic Calendar.

Transfer Credits

Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended as a part of the admission process. Transfer credit evaluations will be performed during the admission process to the university. Transfer courses determined to be substantially equivalent to a UHD course will be transferred as the UHD course equivalent. Courses taken at other colleges that do not correspond to courses offered by UHD may transfer as elective credit. The number of hours credited for a transferred course will be calculated as UHD equivalent hours. With the consent of the appropriate dean, the chair of the department in which a student is majoring will make the decision concerning application of transfer credit to the degree program. In general, UHD does not award transfer credit for vocational courses that are not considered part of a standard college curriculum. For a course taken more than once, the highest grade will be transferred. Courses that have an F or W will not be accepted for transfer. Grades from the transfer institution, including any other university in the UH System, do not count toward the student’s UHD GPA. Students who apply to UHD while they are attending another institution must submit two official transcripts. The first should be sent at the time of application and should reflect the student’s current enrollment. Students applying for admission with college credits from other countries must submit an evaluated transcript from a credential evaluation service recognized by the university. Students who receive written notification from Office of Admissions that a lower-level course taken at another Texas public institution of higher education has not been accepted may challenge denial of credit by UHD. To initiate a dispute action, a Transfer Dispute Resolution form must be completed. UHD accepts up to 24 hours of credit by examination. Credit by examination may be obtained on the basis of several types of examinations. Nationally recognized standardized examinations such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the College Board’s Advanced Placement program, and International Baccalaureate (IB) may be used. Examinations widely used within a professional field and locally designed examinations also may be used. If credit is not awarded, a period of six months must elapse before application for re-examination will be considered. Appropriate fees are charged for each examination. No student may attempt the exam for a particular course more than twice. Credit may be granted for professional certification and training received from armed forces and service schools. No grade is awarded for courses for which credit has been obtained by exam, nor are hours received for such courses included in the calculation of grade point average for graduation. It is the policy of the University of Houston Downtown to award transfer credit for military courses and/or military service based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE)’s Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services. Credit for military courses and/or credit is available to all admitted undergraduates. HB 269 makes military veterans who enroll in Texas universities and who meet certain requirements eligible to receive undergraduate college credit for the time they spent in the service.

FERPA

UHD has a policy in conformity with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) covering the release of student records. At its discretion the University of Houston-Downtown may provide directory information to the general public without student consent. Students may request that directory information be withheld from the public by contacting the Registrar’s Office at any time during the semester. Such requests must be made in writing and will remain in place until the student directs the office in writing that it is to be removed. In accordance with FERPA and at its discretion, UHD will disclose information from a student’s education records without the written consent of the student to school officials who have a legitimate educational or administrative interest in the records.

Transcripts

Requests for official UHD transcripts are made online through the MyUHD portal via Student eServices and are processed by the Registrar’s Office. Effective September 1, 2013, a transcript fee of $10 will be charged for each printed official transcript. Official transcripts from other institutions which are submitted to the Office of Admissions as part of the admissions process become the property of UHD and will not be rereleased to the student unless the request is covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

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