college course says incomplete why?

The idea behind the “incomplete” grade, at least at the undergraduate level, is to allow students who had some sort of real personal emergency a chance to finish a course once the emergency has passed. The textbook example is the student who gets into a car accident shortly before finals, and can’t make it to the exam because he’s hospitalized.

Full Answer

What does it mean to take an incomplete in a course?

Taking an incomplete in a college course simply conveys just what it sounds like: Your participation in the class is incomplete. You were unable to finish the required coursework by the time the semester or quarter concluded. If you simply decided that you hated the class and didn't turn your final paper in,...

When to apply for an incomplete in college?

Students take incompletes for all kinds of reasons. In general, if circumstances beyond your control prevent you from completing your coursework, you may be eligible to apply for an incomplete. For example, if you came down with a severe illness or were in an accident that required hospitalization or a long recovery period, the registrar and ...

What percentage of students actually finish an incomplete?

-Historically (finishing my 14th year of teaching), less than 1% of the students I’ve worked with actually finish an Incomplete. They end up retaking the whole course because the lingering work becomes an afterthought.

Should I take more than one incomplete during a semester?

Should you need to take more than one incomplete during a semester, make sure you're clear on what you need to do to finish each class as well as the deadline requirements. An incomplete can help you deal with an unexpected situation, but the ultimate goal is to allow you to finish your coursework in a way that best supports your academic goals.

What does getting an incomplete mean?

According to Academic Senate Regulations, the grade of Incomplete ('I') may be assigned when a student's work is of passing quality and represents a significant portion of the requirements for a final grade, but is incomplete for a good cause as determined by the instructor; good cause may include current illness, ...

Does an incomplete affect GPA?

Incomplete Courses The following are not considered passing grades: F, NC, WU, or W. Incomplete (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation and are considered a noncompletion of attempted coursework until the grade is replaced with a permanent grade and academic progress can be re-evaluated.

Can I ask my professor for an incomplete?

How It Works. You don't so much take an Incomplete as ask for one. The procedure is pretty straightforward: you need to discuss the possibility with your instructor by the last day of class. If your instructor is willing, then the two of you will work out a plan to complete your remaining work in the course.

What is an incomplete class?

An I (incomplete) grade is awarded only when a student has completed the majority of the work of a course and the student's work has been of acceptable quality (C or better for undergraduate students, B or better for graduate students), but the required amount of work has not been completed because of illness, ...

How It Works

You don't so much take an Incomplete as ask for one. The procedure is pretty straightforward: you need to discuss the possibility with your instructor by the last day of class. If your instructor is willing, then the two of you will work out a plan to complete your remaining work in the course.

Things to Think About

Check in with your Academic Advisor before asking for an Incomplete. Your Academic Advisor can help you think through your situation, consider whether an Incomplete is the best course of action, and inform you of any potential repercussions to your academic progress.

What is an incomplete grade?

What is an Incomplete (I) Grade? An Incomplete Grade ("I") is a non punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a term/semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course and (2) has a justifiable and documented reason, beyond the control of the student (such as serious illness or military service), ...

How long does it take to remove an I grade from UNT?

A student may remove a grade of “I” within one year by completing the stipulated work. After completion of the stipulated work the instructor of record records the final grade on a UNT Grade Change Form and obtains the department chair’s signature.

What is an incomplete grade?

According to Academic Senate Regulations, the grade of Incomplete ('I') may be assigned when a student’s work is of passing quality and represents a significant portion of the requirements for a final grade, but is incomplete for a good cause as determined by the instructor; good cause may include current illness, serious personal problems, an accident, a recent death in the immediate family, a large and necessary increase in working hours or other situations of equal gravity.

When does an I grade have to be replaced with a letter grade?

An 'I' grade must be replaced with a letter grade (or P or S grade) by the end of the third succeeding quarter (excluding summer sessions) of academic residence , or the grade reverts to an F (or NP or U).

What does "incomplete" mean in college?

Instead of receiving an actual letter grade with a value (A, B, C, etc.), the student's grade will have an "I" for incomplete. With an incomplete, students are typically given more time to finish assignments; their "I" changes to an actual grade letter when these assignments are completed. However, if the incomplete guidelines aren't met within the allotted time frame, the incomplete transfers to an "F" in the course. This means the student has failed the course and will not earn credit.

Why are incompletes not given to students?

Incompletes are not given to students because they started the class late, fell behind on their homework, or for planned or known events. The following are examples of situations when an incomplete is usually not appropriate: moving, vacations, regular personal, family and job responsibilities.

What happens if you have an incomplete assignment?

However, if the incomplete guidelines aren't met within the allotted time frame, the incomplete transfers to an "F" in the course.

What is an incomplete agreement?

An incomplete has to be agreed on between the student and the instructor and is usually only given when the student is passing the course. Once it's determined that the student is eligible for an incomplete and both the student and instructor agree on the terms, an incomplete agreement is submitted to the school.

What happens if a student fails to complete the assignment in the agreement?

Again, if the student fails to fulfill the terms of the agreement, they do not pass the class.

What Is An Incomplete (I) Grade?

• An Incomplete Grade ("I") is a non punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a term/semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course and (2) has a justifiable and documented reason, beyond the control of the student (such as serious illness or military service), for not completing the work on schedule. The student must arrange...

See more on registrar.unt.edu

How to Get An Incomplete (I) Grade

How to Remove An Incomplete (I) Grade

Additional Resources

Life Cycle of An Incomplete Grade

Incomplete Grade Removal

Extension of Incomplete Grade

• For justifiable reasons, students may petition to extend the 'I' grade past the end of the third succeeding quarter. Petitions to extend the 'I' grade must be obtained from the dean's office for undergraduate students or fromGraduate Studiesfor graduate students. Requests for extensions must be submitted before the 'I' grade lapses to an F, NP, U g...

See more on registrar.ucdavis.edu

Repeating A Course with A Previous Incomplete Grade