Create a GPA definition

Create a GPAClosed grade point average definition to define a type of GPA you want to calculate. For example, you might create a Simple GPA definition and a Weighted GPA definition.

Note: Intermediate Organization-level users can add, delete and modify GPA definitions for their organizations. They can view GPA definitions created at the Root Organization level, and copy and modify them for use at their own organizations.

To create a GPA definition:

  1. Log on to the District or Intermediate Organization view.
  2. Select Grades > GPA.
  3. Select Options > Add. The New GPA Definition page appears.

  1. Use this table to enter information in the fields:

  2. Field

    Description

    Name

    Enter a name to identify this GPA calculation.

    Course member type

    Do one of the following:

    • Select Course GPA Indicator if you want the system to reference the Include in GPA? field for a course when determining which values to include in the calculation. This does not reference the internal Member table, and therefore requires less maintenance of courses and their link to a GPA.
    • Select Exclude if this calculation excludes the courses you select when you link this GPA to courses in your course catalog. For example, it might be easier to select the four physical education classes that you want the system to exclude from this GPA calculation than the thousands of other classes to include.
    • Select Include if this calculation includes the courses you select when you link this GPA to courses in your course catalog. For example, it might be easier to select the few classes you want the system to include in this GPA calculation.

    Course weight type

    Do one of the following:

    • Select Course Weight to indicate that you want the system to weight courses based on their weights in the course catalog.
    • Select Credit to indicate that you want the system to use the number of credits a student earns in a course in the GPA calculation.
      Note: Aspen divides total points by total course weights to determine GPA. This field determines the value the system uses for the total course weights.

    Name

    To select the transcript definition to associate with this GPA, click Search icon. to select a value from a pick list.

    GPA Field > Long name

    To select the name of the field in which you want to store this GPA, begin typing the value and select the one you want, or click Search icon. to select a value from a pick list.

    For example, you might select the GPA – Unweighted field to store your simple GPA definition.

    Warning: If you do not select a field, the system does not store student GPAs in the Student table after you run GPAs with this definition, and cannot include GPAs on report cards and transcripts. To save a calculated GPA, you must identify a field the system should save it in.
    Note: A user-defined field for GPA must be created in the Data Dictionary's Student table with the User data type field set as Number.

    Rank Field > Long name

    To select the name of the field in which you want to store student rank numbers calculated with this GPA, click Search icon. to select a value from a pick list.

    Warning: If you do not select a field, the system does not store student rank numbers in the Student table after you run the Grade Point Averages report with this definition, and the system cannot include GPAs on report cards and transcripts. To save student rank numbers, you must identify a field in which the system should save them.
    Note:  A user-defined field for Rank must be created in the Data Dictionary's Student table with the User data type field set as Integer.

    See Create User-Defined Fields.

    Rank

    Select All Students if you want Aspen to calculate a rank number for all students in the system.

    Select Students with include in rank flag only for Aspen to calculate a rank number for only those students with the Include in rank checkbox selected on the Student details page (Student > Details).

    Update GPA/Rank on grade change?

    		 Select this checkbox if you want Aspen to update a student's GPA and rank when his or her transcript record is updated with new grades. This field works in conjunction with the transcript auto-calculation options in your school's Grade preferences. Your school might have opted to update GPA and rank separately. See your Aspen system administrator for more information.

    Grade level start/end

    Select the range of grade levels you want to include in this GPA calculation.

    Procedure > Name

    Select the procedure Aspen uses to calculate the GPA.
  1. Click Save. Now you can define the point values for this GPA calculation.