Modeling the Grade Point Average (GPA) System in Nigerian Universities

Abstract

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress.

Keywords: Mathematical Model, Course credit system, Semester system, Grade Point Average (GPA) system, Student Academic Progress