Incomplete Grade Policy

Updated: January 8, 2025

Students wishing to request an incomplete for any course must consult with their instructor in advance. It is highly recommended to do this before the term ends, as not all instructors permit incompletes. In some cases, instructors may assign an incomplete grade at the end of the term without prior notice from the student, at their discretion.

The policy states that Incomplete grades may be granted at the discretion of the instructor if a student is unable to complete coursework due to documented extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness or emergencies. However, all the following conditions must be met for an incomplete grade to be considered:

Good Standing Requirement:

Primarily, the student must be in good academic standing in the course, having completed all assigned coursework with a passing grade up until the final week of the term, i.e. the student would have otherwise passed the course going into the final assessment period.

Timing and Documentation:

The extenuating circumstances must occur prior to the final examination and inhibit the student from completing the final assessment, be it in the materiality of an exam, presentation, or essay.

The student must provide appropriate documentation of the circumstances (e.g., medical note, emergency verification).

Request Process:

The student must submit a formal written request for an incomplete grade to the instructor before the end of the term, outlining the reasons for the request and attaching supporting documentation.

The request must be approved by both the instructor and the academic dean.

Completion Deadline:

All remaining coursework must be completed within the timeframe specified by the instructor, not exceeding one term from the original course end date.

If the coursework is not completed within the stipulated time frame, the incomplete grade will automatically convert to a default grade as determined by the instructor and dean (e.g., "F" or permanent “INC”).

This policy ensures that incomplete grades are reserved for situations where genuine, unavoidable hardships prevent students from completing their academic obligations, while maintaining academic integrity and fairness.

Due Dates for Incomplete Work

• All incomplete assignments should be submitted to the instructor within 60 days of the term’s end; the academic dean and the Registrar should be copied on any emailed submissions to the instructor.

Failure to submit the incomplete work by the specified due date will result in a grade of Permanent Incomplete (PI) unless an alternative agreement has been reached between the faculty and the student regarding the due date or default grade, documented on the Incomplete Grade Form.

Students with excessive or long-standing incompletes may be restricted from registering for additional courses.