The level of academic difficulty that a student has experienced can be measured as the number of grade points below the minimum 2.0 average.  Recovery points are a quantitative measure of credits that a student needs to complete with a B or better to return to good academic standing (i.e. 2.0 cumulative grade point average).  Recovery points are a useful numerical value for determining the appropriate academic plans for recovery, and for individual conversations between advisers and students. 

Recovery points should be evaluated when the cumulative gpa* is below 2.0, using this formula:

Recovery points = GPA Units x [2 - gpa]

*Cumulative gpa is based on grades (A-F) earned in classes taken at Penn State.  In the above calculation, "GPA Units" are Penn State credits where a letter grade (A-F) are posted.  The numbers needed for this calculation can be found in the LionPATH Student Center under Units Taken Toward GPA in the Academics tab, as well as in the unofficial advising transcript as "GPA Units."

Additional definitions:

• Attempted (as displayed on the unofficial advising transcript): All credits that a student has enrolled on their official University record following the regular drop/add deadline of a given semester. 
• Earned: Total credits earned equal the accumulation of all Penn State credits successfully completed by letter grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, or symbols SA, PA, FL and R; credits by examination as defined by Section 42-50; and credit granted by transfer from other colleges and universities as defined in Sections 42-80 and 42-90.
• GPA Units: Credits on a student's academic record that are formally used to calculate the cumulative Grade Point Average (i.e., courses in which a student has earned a letter grade (A-F) in a class taken at Penn State)
• Points: Numerical value of letter grade points used to calculate a Grade Point Average

Examples of Recovery Points: