- College Academic Counseling
Expected Cumulative Progress
Welcome to ECP! This website is designed to help College undergraduates understand ECP, as well as the counseling processes that have been designed to help students meet ECP guidelines and make steady progress toward graduation. Freshmen entering the College in Fall 2001 and thereafter and transfer students entering in Fall 2003 and thereafter are held for ECP.
What is ECP and why is it important?
Undergraduates in the UCLA College are expected to make steady progress toward earning their bachelor’s degree, and ECP guidelines have been designed and approved by the faculty to provide important guideposts for academic progress. ECP processes increase counseling opportunities for students, and students are encouraged to work one-on-one with an academic counselor in their College advising units. By meeting ECP guidelines, students graduate in a timely manner and open up UCLA admissions slots for deserving freshmen and transfers.
What is the ECP guideline?
UCLA coursework (or coursework transferred from another institution, including AP units) completed during the summer may be applied towards satisfaction of minimum progress for the following academic year only.
For students entering as freshmen, the chart below sets expectations for cumulative progress and indicates the timing of ECP checks (on even quarters).
*Excludes units prior to admission to UCLA.
To satisfy the ECP guidelines, you are expected to enroll in a minimum of 13 units during a regular quarter of enrollment and to meet the unit target listed for each quarter of your enrollment. By the end of the second quarter, for example, freshmen are expected to have completed 27 units, and by the end of the fifth quarter, freshmen are expected to have completed 71 units.
Students entering as freshmen should keep in mind that units earned before your UCLA matriculation (e.g., Advanced Placement Exam units; IB credit, or enrollment in college courses while in high school) do not count for ECP. ECP is based on units taken after you become a UCLA student.
For transfer students, the first quarter at UCLA is considered to be quarter 7 for the purpose of ECP calculations.
Students entering as transfer students should keep in mind that all units transferred to UCLA will count toward your ECP total.
Can I review my own ECP record?
Yes, students who entered UCLA as freshmen can access their ECP record through MyUCLA; just click on ECP on the left hand side of your home page and you will see a chart that looks something like this:
000-111-222 BRUIN, JOSIE (FR 01) |
|||||
Term |
Cumulative Units |
ECP Term Status |
|||
|
Total |
Target |
Surplus |
|
|
1-01F |
13 |
13 |
0 |
Odd Term |
|
2-02W |
25 |
27 |
-2 |
ECP Shortage |
|
3-02S |
38 |
42 |
-4 |
Odd Term |
|
4-02F |
53 |
56 |
-3 |
ECP Shortage Continued |
|
5-03W |
65 |
71 |
-6 |
Odd Term |
|
6-03S |
81 |
86 |
-5 |
Subject to ECP Discontinuation |
|
7-03F |
97 |
101 |
-4 |
ECP Exempt: 4-year graduation plan |
|
8-04W |
113 |
116 |
-3 |
ECP Exempt |
|
9-04S |
129 |
132 |
-3 |
ECP Exempt |
|
In the left column, every term that you have been enrolled at UCLA will be listed. The number of course units you actually completed by the end of the term is listed in the "Total" column and your target (set by the ECP guideline) is listed in the "Target" column. The "Surplus" column indicates the number of units you are either above or below the required ECP target for that term. If you earn summer session units (at UCLA or elsewhere), they will be added to the subsequent fall term. The far right column indicates counseling actions, each of which will be explained below. If you have any questions about your ECP chart, please contact your academic counselor in your College counseling unit.
Transfer students should consult a College academic counselor.
When is my ECP progress officially checked?
Your progress is checked officially every two quarters (on even numbered quarters). If you fall behind your expected progress (i.e. complete fewer units than expected), you will be designated as on ECP Shortage and a hold will be placed on your registration, and you will be required to see a College academic counselor.
Please keep in mind that this is a counseling designation; no record of ECP Shortage will be noted on your UCLA transcript.
What happens when I have an ECP Shortage?
Your counselor will discuss your academic progress and work with you to create a reasonable academic plan that will help get you back on track within the next two quarters. This ECP contract is a formal agreement between you and the College.
To fulfill your contract, you will need to take more units during the next two quarters to catch up and get back on your ECP track. You may also agree to attend summer session, either at UCLA, a community college, another accredited college, UC Extension, or study abroad programs. If you decide to attend another institution, you should consult with your College academic counselor to make sure that the courses you take will transfer to UCLA.
Please take advantage of this counseling opportunity to plan ahead and receive expert and thoughtful guidance tailored to your individual needs.
What if I cannot meet my ECP contract?
If you fail to meet your contract and are still behind at the end of the next two quarters, you will be designated as ECP Shortage Continued.
A hold will be placed on your record and you will be required to meet with an academic counselor and update your academic plan.
Your academic counselor will work with you to assess your status and to revise your original probation contract to help you make up your unit deficit and to get you back on track for ECP. Once again, take advantage of this counseling opportunity to plan ahead and receive expert and thoughtful guidance, tailored to your individual needs.
Please note that this is a counseling designation and no record of your ECP Shortage Continued status will be noted on your UCLA transcript.
What if I cannot meet my second ECP contract?
If you fail to meet your second ECP contract after two quarters, you will be designated as Subject to ECP Discontinuation.
You must file a written appeal to be continued at UCLA if you are Subject to Discontinuation. In your appeal, you will be asked to explain personal circumstances that might have contributed to your unit deficit, to provide an academic plan for making progress toward the degree, and to present supporting documentation if necessary.
The committee will review your academic record, as well as your personal situation, previous contracts, academic advising history, and feasibility of your projected plan, and will determine whether you will be held out to catch up on units or will be allowed to continue as a registered student at UCLA.
If you are discontinued, you will not be allowed to continue as a UCLA student in the subsequent quarter; you will have to stop out until you have met the terms of readmission as determined by the committee.
Can I be readmitted if I have stopped out because of an ECP shortage?
Yes, once you have met the terms of readmission (such as catching up on the required number of units set forth by the committee) you should meet with your College counselor who will assist you with the readmission process. Keep in mind that being held out should not increase your time to degree as the terms of readmission will be designed to help you progress towards your degree.
Can I be exempted from ECP?
Yes, are three primary ways a student can be exempted from ECP and ECP monitoring:
- You will exempt from ECP monitoring if you sign a contract that you will graduate in 12 quarters or less for students entering as freshmen or 6 quarters or less for students entering as transfers. Contracts for students entering as freshman can be filed after the sophomore year. Contracts for students entering as transfers can be filed after their first year at UCLA. Please see your College advising unit to work out a contract. Once your plan is approved, you are no longer subject to ECP monitoring. You will be expected to adhere to your academic plan, and if you do not, you will lose your ECP exemption.
- Students who have a need to attend UCLA part-time on an on-going basis (i.e. for three successive quarters or more) may be eligible for reduced fee status. To be eligible, you must be working 30 hours/week or more, have a chronic health condition, or have significant family responsibilities. If you are on fee reduction, you will be automatically exempt from ECP.
- Students who are registered with the Office for Students with Disabilities, and for whom a reduced course load is recommended by a physician, therapist, etc., are eligible to be exempt from ECP. You should submit appropriate verification to your College counseling unit.
Other Frequently Asked Questions about ECP
When I repeat a course, do I earn ECP credits?
Yes, for the first 16 units of repeats, a repeated course will be calculated as units toward your ECP total. Repeated units beyond 16 units will not count toward ECP.
Please note that grades of F or NP do not earn units and therefore do not count towards ECP.
Do courses graded "IP", "DR", or "I" count toward my ECP credits?
Units graded IP (In Progress) count for the quarter in which the course was taken. Units graded "I" (Incomplete) are not counted until a passing grade is recorded; then you receive ECP credits for the quarter in which the "I" grade is removed.
A "DR" (Deferred Report) will count towards ECP only when the grade is removed and replaced with a passing grade, after it has been resolved.
If I am taking a class that does not carry units towards my degree (such as ESL 33A), do I still receive ECP credit when I complete the class?
Yes, you earn ECP credit for all UCLA classes, even if the course does not count toward completing your bachelor’s degree. These courses include: Chemistry 17, English Composition A, and ESL 33A.
What if I am on Academic Probation or Subject to Dismissal?
If you are on Academic Probation or STD, your first priority should be to raise your GPA to meet the minimum academic standards of the College. Your counselor will work with you to help you plan carefully, taking into consideration your special academic needs and personal challenges.
What happens to my ECP monitoring while I am studying abroad through EAP?
Due to the way EAP is programmed, your term abroad will count as an ECP term but no units will appear until your transcripts are submitted and evaluated, so you will probably have a shortage at the time. If you are abroad, simply e-mail your advising unit to defer the hold until you return. Most students are on track for ECP when their units catch up to them.