Minimum Progress Standing

Minimum Progress Requirement

Per UC Davis regulations, all undergraduate students are required to maintain a Degree Progress Average (DPA) of at least 12 units passed per quarter over all full-time quarters of enrollment. This DPA is calculated at the end of each regular full-time quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring).

Students that maintain the 12 unit average are considered to be in Good Standing for Minimum Progress (MP). However, students who fall below the average will see their academic standing change to Not in Good Standing for Minimum Progress.

Minimum Progress Standings

When students fall below the 12 unit average they will have one of the following academic standings based on the number of consecutive terms they have not met the requirement:

• Academic Notice (PB) First term with a Degree progress average below 12 units
• Academic Notice Continued (PC) Second consecutive term with a Degree progress average below 12 units
• Academic Notice Continued (PD) Third consecutive term with a Degree progress average below 12 units
• Subject to Disqualification (DQ) Fourth consecutive term with a Degree progress average below 12 units

Notifications

Students who do not meet minimum progress will receive a message via the UC Davis message center notifying them of their status each term. These notifications will include important information and steps that students should take to address their standing. If you receive a notification, please read it immediately and follow any included instructions.

Failure to read and respond to the notification will result in disqualification. 

Calculating Degree Progress Average (DPA)

Degree Progress Average (DPA) refers to the total number of Minimum Progress eligible units completed divided by the number of full-time quarters completed. To calculate your DPA you can use the following equation:

Units ÷ Quarters = DPA

For example: If you just finished your first year at UC Davis and completed 45 units total during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters (3) then your DPA would be: 45 ÷ 3 = 15

Minimum Progress Deficit

If you do not meet the minimum DPA, you will have a Minimum Progress Deficit. This means you must take additional units in a future quarter (or quarters) to increase your average. To calculate your minimum progress deficit, use the Minimum Progress Chart below to fill in the following equation:

Minimum expected units - actual unit progress = Minimum Progress Deficit 

For example: If you completed 34 units over three full-time quarters at UC Davis, you would have a 2 unit Minimum Progress deficit: 36 - 34 = 2

What Units Count Toward Minimum Progress?

To accurately calculate your DPA, you will need to know what type of units count toward the calculation as well as which quarters are included in the total. Click below to see what units and quarters are included or excluded from your DPA calculation:

Included Units:

• Courses completed with a "D-" (or higher) grade or "P" if taken on as Passed/Not-Passed
• Workload units (such as MAT D or math co-courses)
• Repeated courses in which a passing grade is earned and are within the 16 units of repeat credit allowed
• Summer units completed after matriculation to UC Davis (i.e. after the first quarter). This includes any transferable units completed at a Community College, other UC or 4-year university, as well as UC Davis Summer Sessions

Think of summer as an opportunity for "bonus" units that can help increase DPA.

Excluded Units: 

• Courses completed with a "F" grade or "NP" if taken on as Passed/Not-Passed
• Incomplete "I" (units pending course completion)
• "Y" units (units pending Student Conduct and Integrity action)
• "NG" units (Units not assigned a grade by the instructor)
• Repeated courses taken beyond the 16 units allowed
• All previous college level units completed prior to matriculation to UC Davis (i.e. after the first quarter)—including UC Davis Summer Sessions, UC Open Campus, as well as all exam credit such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate (IB)

Summer Units 

As noted above, units completed in Summer terms (both at UC Davis or at another accredited school) after matriculation to UCD, will be included in the DPA calculation for units (U). However, since Summer terms are not counted as a quarter (Q), units completed in summer will be applied to the next full-time quarter of enrollment immediately following the summer session.

Part Time Status

Students who apply for and are officially approved for part-time status through the Office of the University Registrar are exempted from the minimum progress calculation for the period of time that they maintain their part-time status.

Note: A student who is not in Good Standing for Minimum Progress will remain so until the deficiency is rectified and the student completes a subsequent full-time quarter in good standing.

Minimum Progress Waiver

In certain cases, students with a qualifying disability may be eligible for a minimum progress waiver. Students may apply for such a waiver through the Student Disability Center. Approval of the waiver omits the specified term(s) from the calculation of DPA. 

Note: A student who is not in Good Standing for Minimum Progress will remain so until the deficiency is rectified, and the student completes a subsequent full-time quarter in good standing.

Returning to Good Standing for Minimum Progress

To return to Good Standing, you must increase your DPA to at least 12 units by the end of your next calculated quarter (Fall, Winter, or Spring). Here are a few ways you can increase your DPA:

• Take extra units in a future quarter (or quarters): Taking 14–16 units per quarter can help increase your DPA if you have fallen behind. Note: BAO advisors do not recommend students take more than 16 units in a single quarter.
• Enroll in Summer Session: Since summer units count toward progress, but summer quarters do not, this is a great opportunity to increase your DPA if you have a larger deficit.
• Repeat failed or not passed courses: Repeating courses (within the 16-unit repeat limit) can both increase your DPA and help improve your GPA.