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?

For students entering as freshmen, the chart below sets expectations for cumulative progress and indicates the timing of ECP checks (on even quarters).

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, you can access your 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:

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.

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.

Your counselor will notify you if you are to Subject to ECP Discontinuation. You have a right to make a written appeal, and the College Appeals Committee will review your appeal. Your counselor will work with you as you write your appeal. 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 College Appeals Committee will make one of two recommendations to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, either that you be continued on a third ECP contract for another two quarters or that you be “discontinued”. The Vice Provost will make the final decision after consulting the Appeals Committee Chair; in some cases, the Vice Provost may want to see the student to discuss the case before making a final decision.

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.

Can I be readmitted if I have stopped out because of an ECP shortage?

Yes, to be readmitted you will have to take units at another institution (or attend a UCLA Summer Sessions) to get back on track. You will be informed of the number of units you will need to complete. Once you have completed these units and submit an official transcript to the Undergraduate Admissions Office (1147 Murphy), you should meet with your College counselor who will assist you in the readmissions process. If you are in good academic standing (a C average) and have completed the required number of units, you will be readmitted and encouraged to complete your UCLA degree.

Can I be exempted from ECP?

Yes, are three primary ways a student can be exempted from ECP and ECP monitoring:

1. 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 (refer back to “Josie Bruin’s ECP chart). You will be expected to adhere to your academic plan, and if you do not, you will lose your ECP exemption.
   
   
2. 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 eligible for reduced fee status, you should see your College counselor to be exempt from ECP.
   
   
3. 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.

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) or “DR” (Deferred Report) are not counted until a passing grade is recorded; then you receive ECP credits for the quarter in which the “I” or “DR” grade is removed.

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?

You will not be monitored for ECP until your units earned abroad are transferred to UCLA and appear on your DPR. Once you return to UCLA, you will be expected to be on target with ECP units.