Transfer Credits
Transfer credits accepted by DigiPen are included in the maximum timeframe and the PACE of completion policy. Transfer hours accepted towards completion of a student’s program count as both credits attempted and credits earned. Transfer credits are not included in the cumulative and major GPA.
Major or Degree Changes
A student may change from one degree to another during attendance at DigiPen. Students who change from one major to another are still expected to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress and complete the course work within the maximum time frame. All attempted credits from a prior major are included in the total attempted credits. See the Degree Plan Policy for more information.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade indicates that a student has not finished all coursework required for a grade. An incomplete will count toward attempted credit but not as credits earned until a final grade is posted from the Office of the Registrar. Incomplete grades, however, do not impact GPA calculations.
Withdrawing from Courses & 'W' Grades
A ‘W’ or ‘WF’ grade is considered an attempted and unearned grade and impacts Maximum Timeframe and PACE when determining if a student is making SAP. The ‘W’ grade has no impact on GPA. However, ‘WF’ does affect cumulative GPA just like an ‘F’ grade would.
Returning from Official Withdrawal (Readmits)
Students returning to DigiPen after an official withdrawal who were considered “SAP ineligible” for the term in which they withdrew will need to submit an appeal to the Office of Financial Aid in order to be considered for federal aid.
Second Bachelor's
If a student is completing a second bachelor’s degree at DigiPen, only the courses pertaining to that degree will be considered when manually calculating the Maximum Timeframe and PACE of Completion SAP calculation. Transfer credits including DigiPen credits from a previous bachelor’s degree will not be included in the cumulative and major GPA. The student should communicate to the Office of Financial Aid of their enrollment in a second bachelor’s degree program.
(Cumulative credits earned / Cumulative credits attempted) x 100 = PACE (%)
See the following chart for a sample PACE calculation.
| Course | Credits | Final Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSY 101 | 3 | A- | 11.10 (3 x 3.7) |
| COL 101 | 1 | P | 0.00 |
| CS 116 | 4 | W | 0.00 |
| DES 100 | 4 | F | 0.00 |
| DES 101 | 4 | B | 12 (4 x 3.0) |
| 16 | 23.10 | ||
| Cumulative semester attempted credits (for GPA) | 11.00 | ||
| Cumulative semester attempted credits (for PACE) | 16.00 | ||
| Cumulative Credits Earned | 8.00 | ||
| Grade Points | 23.10 | ||
| GPA | 2.10 | ||
Earned credits include: A-, B, and P
Attempted Credits for PACE included: A-, F, W, P, and B
(8.00 / 16.00) x 100 = 50%
The calculation of PACE is based on the total cumulative credits earned divided by cumulative credits attempted. Therefore, the PACE calculation for the above example is 11 earned credits divided by 16 attempted credits, resulting in 50% PACE.
Students not maintaining satisfactory PACE for their program will be placed on Academic Warning. Such students will work with their Student Success Advisor to establish an academic plan to help them get back on PACE to graduate within 150% of the published length of the educational program, as measured in semester credit hours. Failure to meet the terms of this academic plan by not meeting semester PACE requirements, may result in Administrative Withdrawal and the student would not be eligible to apply for readmission for one semester. For financial aid recipients, please also refer to the SAP Policy for Financial Aid section in the Financial Assistance chapter for more information.
Please contact the Student Success Advisors or the Office of the Registrar with any questions regarding how PACE is calculated or to determine if you are making satisfactory PACE for the program in which you enrolled.