what does an incomplete mean in college course

by Mrs. Destinee Mueller III 7 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 is an incomplete 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.

What does it mean when a student asks for an incomplete?

This means the student has failed the course and will not earn credit. Most students who ask for an incomplete usually have encountered an emergency or an unplanned situation that has or will keep them from completing the class.

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.

Can I re-enroll in a course if I have an incomplete grade?

Graduate Students. You may not re-enroll in a course if you have an unresolved Incomplete grade for that course. To remove the 'I' grade, you must contact the instructor of record to complete the online Incomplete Grade Change via the online Grade Change Tool. For more information, see Grade Changes.

What does it mean if you get an incomplete in a college course?

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.

Will an incomplete affect my 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.

Does an incomplete stay on your transcript?

Once an Incomplete (I) grade is assigned, it remains on the transcript along with the passing grade a student may later receive for the course. An instructor may assign the I grade when work is of passing quality but is incomplete for a good cause (such as illness or other serious problem).

How long does an incomplete grade last?

Incomplete Grades must be resolved no later than one year (twelve months) from the published end day of the semester in which the grade was assigned.

Is it better to drop a class or fail a class?

Failing & Then Re-Taking a Class Croskey notes that dropping a class is better than withdrawing, but withdrawing is better than failing. “A failing grade will lower the student's GPA, which may prevent a student from participating in a particular major that has a GPA requirement,” Croskey says.

Will an incomplete affect my financial aid?

Failing or taking an incomplete grade in courses can impact your financial aid in multiple ways. The 3 main impacts may be owing money back for the current term, losing federal aid eligibility for future terms, and not meeting the renewal criteria for scholarships and institutional aid.

How do you ask a professor for an incomplete grade?

The procedure is pretty straightforward: you need to discuss the possibility with your instructor by the last day of class (in general the earlier the better). If your instructor is willing, then the two of you will work out a plan to complete your remaining work in the course.

How do you complete an incomplete graduation?

You can get proof from your nodal or district officer. You just have to meet with your district officer, and tell him why you discontinued your graduation in past time and want to continue your graduation and make a gap year proof. You have not mentioned, in which time you have left your graduation.

How do you email a professor about an incomplete grade?

Write your full name at the beginning and then create a polite ask. For example, you can start with the words, “I would appreciate it if you could explain to me some things about my grades in your class”. Then describe your concerns shortly. Try to be very specific to make a respectful and polite concern.

How do I remove F from transcript?

Retake The Course Some schools will allow you to retake a course for a better grade and will delete the F from your transcript entirely. Others will allow you to re-take the class for a higher grade but will keep the F on your transcript, though will not calculate it into your GPA.

What does R mean on transcript?

Repeated Course Policy Through Summer 1986 and Beginning With Fall 1993 The symbol “R” appears adjacent to the grade earned for each attempt when a course has been repeated. Only the last com- pleted attempt counts toward the degree and is included in the grade-point average.

What does M stand for in grades?

E = the student has exceeded the grade level standard(s) M = the student has met the grade level standard(s) P = the student has partially met the grade level standard(s) D = the student did not meet the grade level standard(s)

How much does one F affect your GPA?

An F letter grade translates to zero grade points on the GPA scale. Thus, an F would significantly decrease your overall GPA because it contributes course credits to the GPA calculation without any grade points—the more weighted the class, the higher the drop in GPA.

What would my GPA be if I got all A's and one F?

A GPA is calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points by the total amount of classes attempted. Your GPA may range from 0.0 to a 4.0. For instance, if you received all F's, your GPA would be 0.0, while straight A's will earn a 4.0. 1.

Does one F affect my GPA?

The failing grade will NOT calculate in your GPA, but it will still show on your transcript.

How much will my GPA drop if I get an F?

The GPA calculator will refigure your cumulative GPA based upon your anticipated grades for this semester....New Cumulative GPA.Letter GradeGrade Points Per CreditD+1.3D1.0D-0.7F0.08 more rows

What happens to an incomplete grade?

Once an Incomplete (I) grade is assigned , it remains on the transcript along with the passing grade a student may later receive for the course. An instructor may assign the I grade when work is of pass

What does it mean to have to complete work in the semester?

It usually means you have to complete remaining work within a certain deadline, often by the end of the next semester, and if you don’t, your grade will automatically be issued based upon the grade you’ve earned without that work.

What does outstanding requirements mean in college?

It means it will affect your GPA if you don’t complete the course. Outstanding requirements must be completed to get a grade.

What does "passing equity" mean in college?

Commonly, that means you get no credit or GPA adjustment from that one course and you get a placeholder incomplete grade , and this is granted because of some sort of difficult circumstance like a physical or mental illness or family emergencies. It certainly requires an actual conversation with the professor of the course about it.

What does INC mean in college?

It means you didn’t finish the work for the course by the time the semester ended, and that your professor very generously gave you an INC (Incomplete) to allow you additional time to finish your coursework.

What does it mean when you get a grade for a missed class?

It means you did not flunk but you did not complete the requirements for the course. If you have received such a grade, you must contact the professor and find out what work you missed and what the deadline for submission of the missing work. Then get busy completing the missing work and be sure to submit it directly to the professor in the required form.

What happens if you don't complete your work by the end of the next term?

If the work is not completed by the end of the next full term in residence, the I grade lapses to an F, NP, or U as appropriate. The College or school may extend the completion deadline in unusual cases (not applicable to graduate students).

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.

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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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 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 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).

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 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).

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.

Does the final grade appear on transcripts?

Both the Incomplete and the Final Grade are noted on the transcript.

Can you request an incomplete assignment?

a lab assignment or term paper) because of an illness or other serious problem, then you have the option of requesting an “incomplete” in the course. While it is your responsibility to speak to the instructor in order to request an incomplete, it is entirely up to the instructor whether or not to grant your request.

Does I grade affect GPA?

TheI” grade has no effect on the GPA of the term in which it was taken. A student receives units and grade points for the course after all the coursework has been completed. The actual grade appears on the transcript and DPR in the term in which the work was completed. At this time the grade points and units are averaged into the cumulative GPA (NOT the term GPA).

Can you remove incomplete work from a UCLA class?

If for some reason, you are not able to remove the incomplete within the next completed quarter, you should petition to extend the time for removing the incomplete. This request requires a UCLA College Blue Petition and a note from the professor agreeing to the extension. You must specify the exact date by which the work will be completed, what work remains to be done, and why you were unable to complete the work within the allotted timeframe. As with any petition, however, there is no guarantee of approval.

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.

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.

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.

How long does a grade incomplete stay on your record?

If the degree has not been conferred, and the work has not been completed by the end of the term three calendar years after the grade Incomplete has been assigned, and during which the student has not been in academic residence, then the grade Incomplete shall remain on the student’s record, unless the course is repeated. The three-calendar-years limit for the completion of courses assigned the grade Incomplete shall apply to all and only those courses in which the grade Incomplete is assigned on or after September 1, 2010.

How to remove I grade from schedule builder?

To remove the 'I' grade, you must contact the instructor who initiates the Incomplete Grade Change via the online Grade Change Tool. For more information, see Grade Changes . If the Incomplete grade remains on your record because work has not been completed within three calendar years in which you were not in academic residence, contact the Office of the University Registrar.

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).

Do you have to include incomplete grades in your grade point average?

Incomplete grades are not be included in your grade point average at the end of a quarter. However, at the time of graduation, any remaining 'I' grades are included when your grade point average is computed in order to determine whether you have achieved the 2.000 average required for the bachelor’s degree. An Incomplete grade, in these computations, has the same effect as a grade F, NP, or U, depending on which option you have exercised. Therefore, it is recommended that students not delay the clearance of incomplete grades so as not to jeopardize graduation.

Can I extend my I grade?

Petitions to extend the 'I' grade must be obtained from the dean's office for undergraduate students or from Graduate Studies for graduate students. Requests for extensions must be submitted before the 'I' grade lapses to an F, NP, U grade. The extension cannot be made retroactively. For more information regarding retroactive changes, see Grade Changes.

Can I reenroll in a course if I have an incomplete grade?

You may not re-enroll in a course if you have an unresolved Incomplete grade for that course. To remove the 'I' grade, you must contact the instructor of record to complete the online Incomplete Grade Change via the online Grade Change Tool. For more information, see Grade Changes. If the Incomplete grade remains on your record because work has not been completed within three calendar years in which you were not in academic residence, please contact the Office of the University Registrar. Students can use OASIS to see pending and past grade changes submitted on their record.

What does "I" mean in college?

An incomplete grade ("I") indicates that an extension of the assignment of a final grade from the professor has been approved because the student has not completed a portion of required course work. Reasons for the request usually indicate an unforeseen and justifiable interruption occurred during that course.

What is a course repeat?

Also known as Grade Forgiveness , a course repeat is the repetition of a course for the sake of improving upon an earlier unsatisfactory performance in which the new grade replaces the old grade in the calculation of the grade point average (GPA). Course Repeats are allowed if the first attempt has an insufficient grade of one of the following: "C-," "D+," "D," "D-," "F," "WU," or "IC."

How many times can you repeat a course for grade forgiveness?

Undergraduate students may repeat an individual course for grade forgiveness no more than once or two (2)attempts total. Prior to Fall 2013, courses could be repeated more than twice in an undergraduate career.

What is a term withdrawal?

What is a Course Withdrawal or Term Withdrawal? A course withdrawal refers to any course (s) that a student drops after the first three weeks of the semester. A grade of "W" will appear on the transcript to denote the change to their enrollment. A complete withdrawal from all classes is referred to a Term Withdrawal.

Can I re-enroll in a class with an I grade?

All students already enrolled in a class with an " I" grade will not be allowed to re-enroll in the class in a future term UNTIL the incomplete has been converted to a grade.

Can repeatable courses keep you from enrolling?

A repeatable course should not normally keep a student from enrolling as long as the student has not exceeded the number of attempts allowed in the catalog.

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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...
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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 on the electronic grade roster. All work in the …
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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…
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Additional Resources

  • For more information about Removal of "I" grades, please see the Academics section of the UNT Catalog.
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