Incomplete (“I”) Grades for Students

UNIVERSITY POLICY

The grade of "Incomplete" is reserved for special cases and means that, because of extenuating circumstances, the student failed to meet an important requirement of the course but has in other respects done passing work for the semester. 

  • A student and instructor must have a signed "Incomplete Contract" stating the assigned grade for the course is "I".
  • Completion of course requirements must occur by the end of the following semester unless the instructor sets a shorter time limit.
  • For courses in spring semester, the following semester is fall. A grade of "I" automatically changes to "F" or "NC" at the end of that following semester if no other grade is assigned.
  • The instructor may require the student to attend the same course in a subsequent term in order to complete the "important requirements of the course that need to be completed to determine the final assigned grade."
    NOTE: THIS SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION
    • In no other instances is a student allowed to attend a course without registering for it. Students completing an Incomplete should not re-register for the same class.
  • Students completing an Incomplete cannot use these credits for enrollment or financial aid purposes in subsequent terms.
  • Incomplete grades count as credits attempted but not as credits earned.
  • All Incompletes must have a grade posted before a degree will be awarded.
  • Incomplete grades will affect satisfactory Academic and Financial Progress.
  • In addition to the guidelines noted above, completing the work for a grade of "I" by graduate students is not considered to be enrollment for purposes of the graduate student enrollment policy that graduate students enroll for at least one credit during the semester of graduation.

INCOMPLETE CONTRACTS

The student starts the process by logging in to Incomplete Contracts and chooses "Create New."
Screen shot of the create new link location

Instructions Part 1

A student may initiate a request for an incomplete contract because of failure to meet an important requirement of the course but has in other respects done passing work for the semester. Assignment of the incomplete grade is at the discretion of the instructor. The following criteria must be met before an incomplete grade will be assigned:

  • The student has attended a majority of the course meetings and completed a majority of the coursework requirements.
  • The student must be passing the course at the time of the incomplete request.
  • All remaining work must be completed by a mutually agreed upon date by the student and the instructor.
  • Incomplete grades are not intended to allow students to attend a course during a future semester without re-enrolling. However, the instructor may require the student to attend the same course in a subsequent term in order to complete the "important requirements of the course that need to be completed to determine the final assigned grade." A student completing an incomplete should not re-register for the same class.
  • Incomplete work must be completed by the date indicated in the contract. If the remaining work is not completed by the due date, the incomplete (I) grade will revert to the grade of F or NC dependent on the grading method chosen by student at registration.

Instructions Part 2

The student enters the information regarding the Incomplete request and then clicks "Submit" to send the request to the instructor.

Screen shot of the student section of the form

STUDENT NOTIFICATION:

Your request for an Incomplete(I) has been submitted to the instructor. The instructor will notify you of the approval/denial within 10 business days.
Incomplete Contract

INSTRUCTOR NOTIFICATION:

A request for an incomplete has been submitted by one of your students. Please log in and approve or deny the request within 10 business days.
Incomplete Contract

Instructions Part 3

The instructor can approve or deny the request for an Incomplete grade.

If the instructor approves the request, the instructor will:

  • Enter the information about the work to be completed and the timeframe.
  • Send the contract back to the student.

Instructor Response Student Notification

Contract Approved

STUDENT NOTIFICATION:

Your request for an Incomplete (I) has been approved. See Incomplete Contract for further details.

Please note that completion of course requirements must occur by the end of the following semester unless the instructor sets a shorter time limit.

*NOTE: FOR COURSES IN SPRING SEMESTER, THE FOLLOWING SEMESTER IS THE FALL SEMESTER.

 

Contract Denied

STUDENT NOTIFICATION:

Your Request for an Incomplete has been denied. See Incomplete Contract Comments for further details or contact your instructor. 

Instructions Part 4

DEPARTMENT CHAIR NOTIFICATION:

An instructor in your department has initiated an Incomplete Contract with a student. To view the contract, go to Incomplete Contract.

INCOMPLETE GRADE CONVERSION

If a student has not completed the course requirements by the end of the following semester (or the shorter deadline stated in the contract), or if a grade change is not posted, the Incomplete will automatically convert to an "F" or "NC".

For courses in spring semester, the following semester is fall. A grade of "I" automatically changes to "F" or "NC" at the end of that following semester if no other grade is assigned.

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