How to Compute an Honor Point Deficit

A deficit means that a student's grade point average (GPA) in their major, minor, or cumulative average has fallen below the required minimum of 2.0. The deficit is the number of hours of "B" grades necessary in the future to raise the average to the required 2.0 level. Any grade of "C+" or better reduces an honor point deficit; any grade of "C-" or lower adds to the honor point deficit.

On an LSA transcript, each term's course information is formatted to indicate Michigan Semester Hours (MSH), Credits Toward Program (CTP), Final Grade, and Michigan Honor Points (MHP).

Here is an example:

MSH lists the number of credits attempted during the term; MHP indicates the numerical value of the grade received. CTP indicates the number of credits earned toward the LSA degree. In our example, since the student technically "passed" everything, the MSH and the CTP are the same.

The GPA is figured by dividing Michigan Semester Hours (MSH) into Michigan Honor Points (MHP). MSH includes all the graded credit hours elected within U-M and recognized by LSA. MHP includes all the honor points earned within U-M in courses recognized by LSA as counting toward graduation. The honor point deficit is figured by multiplying MSH by 2 and then subtracting the listed MHP.  Deficit = (2 X MSH) - MHP.

Multiplying MSH by 2 gives the number of honor points necessary to have a 2.0 average on that number of MSH. In the example above, the honor point deficit is 6.4 (2 times 16 minus 25.6 equals 6.4). In order for this average to rise to 2.0, the student would need 6.4 credit hours of "B" in the future, with all other grades being no lower than "C."

Here's a full list of all grades and their numerical equivalent: