what did it men to get an incomplete in a college course

by Lon Yundt Sr. 8 min read

Taking an incomplete in a college course is exactly 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.

A grade of Incomplete (noted "I" on the transcript) may be assigned when a student in good standing in a course has completed and passed a majority of the work required for a course but, for reasons beyond the student's control, cannot complete the entire course.

Full Answer

What does it mean to take an incomplete in college?

Although you might think that the term "incomplete" has negative connotations, taking an incomplete in college doesn't necessarily indicate any kind of mistake or poor judgment on the part of a student. In fact, incompletes can be incredibly helpful for those who find themselves in unexpected, difficult, or unavoidable situations.

What do I do if my course is incomplete?

The student must arrange with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements. These requirements must be listed on a Request for Grade of Incomplete form signed by the instructor, student, and department chair; and also entered on the grade roster by the instructor.

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.

Is it bad to take an incomplete class?

That said, an incomplete is a useful option to pursue because it can keep you from having to withdraw from or fail a class. However, if you simply decided that you disliked a class and didn't turn in your final paper, that's a different situation.

What happens if you have too many incompletes?

If you accumulate too many Incompletes, the extra workload can drag you down and cause you to fall behind in your current classes. This situation can easily snowball and make your current quarter unmanageable if you're not careful.

What happens if you miss an exam in a class?

For Incompletes involving missed exams, instructors will commonly ask the student to take the final exam the next time the course is offered (for example, in the following quarter).

How many years can you complete an incomplete?

One year is the maximum time that the university allows for a student to complete an Incomplete. For example, an Incomplete taken in Autumn Quarter this year must be completed by the end of Autumn Quarter next year.

What to do if you ask for an incomplete?

If you feel intimidated by asking for an Incomplete, your Academic Advisor can coach you on how to write a courteous email request to your professor.

Can you turn in incomplete work for a second time?

Instead of submitting a grade for you, at the end of the current quarter the instructor will submit an Incomplete notation on your record. At this point, all you have to do is turn in your remaining work, or take the exam that you missed. Do NOT enroll in the course for a second time-- this is not the proper way to finish an Incomplete. Just finish your remaining work. If you can do this by the agreed-upon deadline, the instructor will then change the Incomplete on your record into a grade.

Can you take an incomplete class?

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.

Do you get units for incomplete classes?

You do not earn the units for an Incomplete course until the class is completed successfully. This also means that if you do not meet your minimum academic progress requirements because of the Incomplete, you may become a candidate for academic probation (or a more elevated status if you are already on probation).

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 with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements. These requirements must be listed on a Request for Grade of Incomplete form signed by the instructor, student, and department chair; and also entered on the grade roster by the instructor. Grades of "I" assigned to an undergraduate course at the end of the Fall 2007 semester and later, will default to "F" unless the instructor has designated a different automatic grade. See also Removal of "I" policy.

What is an I grade?

An "I" grade is a non-punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course; (2) has justifiable reason why the work cannot be completed on schedule; and (3) arranges with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements that the instructor must list on the electronic grade roster. All work in the course must be completed within the specified time (not to exceed one year after taking the course.)

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.

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How to request an excused incomplete?

To request an excused incomplete in any course, the Academic Review Board requires that the student follow these steps: 1. Discuss the prospect of an incomplete both with the professor and with the class dean to determine that an incomplete is the appropriate course of action. The student should be sure to discuss deadlines for the work ...

What happens if you don't complete a course?

If work for a course is not completed by the end of a semester, a student may ask the instructor for an incomplete. The instructor may decide not to grant an incomplete but rather to assign a grade, taking into account that not all requirements for the course have been met.

When do you have to submit incomplete work to the instructor?

If the instructor does agree to give the student an incomplete, the student must submit any missing written work to the instructor by a date determined by the instructor but no later than the first day of the succeeding semester. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the instructor receives the work in a timely way.

Who is responsible for making sure work is received by deadline?

It is the student's responsibility to make sure the work is received by the deadline; the student may want to follow up with the professor to make sure, or copy their class dean on the submission. The student should always keep a personal copy of the work. 2.

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.

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 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.

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.

Can you pass a class without an incomplete?

Students are strongly encouraged to make every effort to finish the course without seeking an incomplete. However, if an emergency arises, an incomplete is often available and can provide the opportunity to pass a class but with more time given to catch up on assignments.

How long do you have to submit coursework to your instructor?

If your instructor has not provided you with a submission deadline, you must submit your work to your instructor at least 30 days prior to the instructor's grade replacement deadline. Instructors must submit the final grade by the deadline (above). Review the Office of the Registrar's information about Incomplete grades (link is external).

How to retain an I grade?

To retain an I grade permanently, submit a Petition to Retain an Incomplete Grade Permanently on Record within the deadline for completing the course. No approval is necessary, but consider carefully before choosing this course of action; it is irreversible, and courses with a permanently retained I grade cannot be taken again while at Cal.

How many incomplete grades can you keep on your record?

Retain/Freeze an Incomplete Grade. Up to two Incomplete grades can be retained permanently on the record (this is often called "freezing an incomplete"). This means instead of a final grade, or the Incomplete lapsing to an F, you will have a grade of “I” on your record.

What is an incomplete grade?

An Incomplete or I grade is meant to act as a placeholder grade. Once you finish your missing work, the instructor can assign you a final grade, which replaces the I grade in your record. Your grade will match the grading option you chose in the semester you started the course. Incomplete grades are opportunities to complete missing work for a course, not to re-do assignments that were already completed. Because of this, it is important to assess whether you feel you can finish a course with a grade you want before deciding on an Incomplete grade.

What happens if a semester does not yield grade points?

A semester that does not yield grade points will lead to academic probation. For example, if a student takes all courses on a pass/no pass basis, receives all incomplete grades, earns all IPs or NRs, or a combination of the above will fail to achieve a GPA and will be placed on probation.

What does "incomplete" mean on a transcript?

A grade of Incomplete (noted "I" on the transcript) may be assigned when a student in good standing in a course has completed and passed a majority of the work required for a course but, for reasons beyond the student's control, cannot complete the entire course.

Can an instructor give an incomplete grade?

Incomplete grades can only be granted by instructors and instructors are under no obligation to grant students an incomplete grade. In cases where an instructor agrees to assign an I grade, it is important to arrive at an agreement about exactly what is required in order to finish the course with the instructor.

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What to do if you will not take a course with this professor again?

If you will not take a course with this professor again, by all means, talk to the new prof early. Say,“I took this course once before and failed it. Here is where I went wrong, but I have a solid plan to do things differently this time (then mention those things). Is there any advice you can offer for someone retaking this course?”

What to do if you have enough assignments to salvage your grade?

If you feel that you have enough assignments that will “count” and you can truly salvage your grade, try for the “I” (based on your school’s policy, of course!).

What to say when you have a concrete plan?

You’ll also need to say, “I have a concrete plan so this doesn’t happen again.” Then lay out your concrete plan. Of course, if you are very close to the end of your term, then there won’t be time to implement a big plan and your professor will know that.

What is the only way that you’ll have a shot at resolution?

I would be very honest with your professor since it sounds like you know exactly what led to this outcome. Honesty is the only way that you’ll have a shot at resolution.

Is it a real plsaeure to find someone who can think like that?

It’s a real plsaeure to find someone who can think like that

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What Is An Incomplete (I) Grade?

How to Get An Incomplete (I) Grade

  • An "I" grade is a non-punitive grade given only during the last one-fourth of a semester and only if a student (1) is passing the course; (2) has justifiable reason why the work cannot be completed on schedule; and (3) arranges with the instructor to finish the course at a later date by completing specific requirements that the instructor must list...
See more on registrar.unt.edu

How to Remove An Incomplete (I) Grade

  • 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. The instructor’s academic dean completes processing with the Registrar’s Office, where the grade point average is adjusted acc…
See more on registrar.unt.edu

Additional Resources

  • For more information about Removal of "I" grades, please see the Academics section of the UNT Catalog.
See more on registrar.unt.edu