Incomplete (IN) Grade
An Incomplete (IN) grade is a temporary grade indicating that, following a request by the student, the instructor has given permission for the student to receive an incomplete grade. In order to receive an IN grade, the student must have a) a satisfactory record in the work already completed for the course, b) encountered unusual or unforeseeable circumstances which prevent them from completing the course requirements by the end of the term, and c) applied to the instructor for permission to receive an IN (see grade definition).
Undergraduate and graduate students have at most two quarters to complete an incomplete. At the end of the second quarter (excluding summer) following the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned, the incomplete will automatically convert to an F grade. In the case of the Law School, incompletes must be completed by the end of the semester following the one in which the incomplete was assigned.
A faculty member has the prerogative to assign a completion date earlier than the two quarter deadline (one semester deadline for the Law School) and this date will supersede the two quarter timeframe (one semester timeframe for the Law School) stated above.
Students must adhere to the incomplete grade request procedure of the academic unit offering the course for which they are requesting the incomplete grade.
Ordinarily no incomplete grade may be completed after the grace period has expired. Instructors may not change incomplete grades after the end of the grace period without the permission of a college-based Exceptions Committee.
In the event that the original instructor is no longer available to grade the work, the Department Chair, where applicable, or the Associate Dean will identify the faculty member who will resolve the incomplete.
NOTE: Incomplete grades are not encouraged in the student’s final two terms of study. However the exceptional cases, where an incomplete is approved in their final term and for students with an incomplete grade in a course from the term immediately preceding their final term of study, may result in the denial of final degree certification for that term and the regular incomplete grade policy will then be enforced.
Students who have completed degree requirements, but have an IN grade that has not yet expired can elect to have the degree posted and the IN grade changed to a permanent incomplete, ING. This grade is permanent and cannot be changed in the future. The student can also elect to postpone degree conferral until the IN grade is resolved.
Research (R) Grade
An R grade is given when a student is making satisfactory progress in a course that extends beyond the end of the term or in a project extending over more than one term. R grades, with the exception of students completing a thesis or a dissertation research course, must be completed within one academic year of the posting of the R grade or it reverts to an F grade.
A faculty member has the prerogative to assign a completion date earlier than the one academic year deadline and this date will supersede the one academic year stated above.
Ordinarily no R grade may be changed after the grace period has expired. Instructors may not change R grades after the end of the grace period without the permission of a college-based Exceptions Committee.
In the event that the original instructor is no longer available to grade the work, the Department Chair, where applicable, or the Associate Dean will identify the faculty member who will resolve the R grade.
Students who have completed degree requirements, but have an R grade that has not yet expired can elect to have the degree posted and the R grade changed to a permanent R grade. The RG (Research, Graduated) grade is permanent and cannot be changed in the future. The student can also elect to postpone degree conferral until the R is resolved.