An Incomplete (I) grade is used to denote course work that is unfinished due to circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, accident, or death in the family.  It is a privilege granted by the instructor because of circumstances, not a right to be expected by the student.  The instructor may assign an incomplete (I) grade if the student is passing the course and can complete the remaining requirements without attending classes.  If additional class attendance is required to complete course requirements, the instructor must issue a final grade.

A student must petition the course instructor to assign an incomplete grade.  The student, in consultation with the course instructor, will complete the appropriate form indicating the reason the incomplete is being requested and clearly specifying the work to be completed, its completion date (the time granted for completion of this work may be less than the maximum time allowed), and the default grade that will be assigned in the event the course requirements are not satisfied.  The instructor must approve this form.  If approved, the student will retain a copy of this form and submit it to the instructor when the course work is completed.
 
An incomplete grade issued to a student on academic probation will not prevent or delay academic action for dismissal.  A student’s cumulative grade point average will be calculated based on all completed course work.

A student is encouraged to complete the required work as soon as possible.  The deadline for making up an incomplete is 8 weeks from the completion of the term in which the incomplete was granted [Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer (calculated from the last day of Summer Session III)].  The instructor must submit either:

• a final grade on the change of grade form, approved by department chair and school dean; or
• a recommendation for an extension, requiring approval by the department chair and the school dean.

An instructor may recommend an extension of time to complete the course requirements when extenuating circumstances exist. Extensions require the approval of the department chairperson and dean of the school offering the course.  If the instructor does not submit a final grade by this deadline or request an additional extension, the dean will notify the registrar to change the incomplete (I) to the default grade.

A faculty member may petition the school dean for a retroactive administrative withdrawal (W) from a course in which an incomplete grade cannot be resolved due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., disability or death of the student or faculty. If the petition is approved, the dean will notify the registrar to record an administrative withdrawal for the course.

If a student repeats a course in which an incomplete grade was earned, the incomplete grade will remain on the transcript, and the most recent grade for the course will be included in calculating the cumulative GPA.

Students will not be graduated with unresolved incomplete grades that were recorded beginning with the Spring 2005 term.  Degree candidates are notified of the outstanding degree requirements.  The degree is not conferred until all requirements have been met.
 

(Approval by FS 5/15/05; AA 4/27/05.  Underlined further clarifies policy - developed in consultation with DC 2/15/06 and FS 2/21/06)


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