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.
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. Lucier, Kelci Lynn.
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. Lucier, Kelci Lynn. "What Does it Meant to Take an Incomplete in College?"
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
In contrast to a withdrawal (or a failing grade), incompletes can be changed on your transcript once the required coursework is completed. You will usually be given a certain amount of time to finish the course requirements, at which point you will receive a grade just as if you'd never stopped and restarted the class.
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 I take an Incomplete in my classes? Contact your instructor(s) to discuss your request. If the professor approves, fill out the Assignment of Incomplete and Requirements for Completion Form and give it to the professor to fill in the respective section.
D+ GPA. A D+ letter grade is equivalent to a 1.3 GPA, or Grade Point Average, on a 4.0 GPA scale, and a percentage grade of 67–69.
If you fail a class, you'll get a 0 on your transcript — and that can bring down your GPA. Failed classes count toward your GPA, though some colleges do not count pass/fail classes in your GPA calculation. If you get an F, you still have to pay for the class without receiving any credit toward your degree.
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.
Asking for an incomplete should be done face to face. Usually, I would recommend in person, but a zoom call may be your only option. Start by asking your professor for a meeting outside of the office hour times. Once the meeting is scheduled, you need to be prepared to plead your case.
Students may withdraw from a course with any of the following grades: Withdraw (W), Withdraw Pass (WP), Withdraw Fail (WF). A grade of W indicates that the student withdrew from a class with no effect to the student's GPA.
If you fail a class, you'll get a 0 on your transcript — and that can bring down your GPA. Failed classes count toward your GPA, though some colleges do not count pass/fail classes in your GPA calculation. If you get an F, you still have to pay for the class without receiving any credit toward your degree.
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.
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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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.)
A course will be given the grade Incomplete or "I" when a student is unable to complete a course due to illness, military service, hardship, or death in the immediate family. Incompletes will be only given if the student has already substantially completed the major requirements of the course.
UNDERGRADUATE: The instructor may complete an I-Form giving the following information when assigning an "I" grade:
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.
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.
However, if the incomplete guidelines aren't met within the allotted time frame, the incomplete transfers to an "F" in the course.
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.
Again, if the student fails to fulfill the terms of the agreement, they do not pass the class.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
If you have 12 units or more of outstanding incompletes on your record, you will not be allowed to register at Berkeley unless granted permission to do so by the College of Letters and Science. L&S may require that you complete some or all of your Incomplete grades before registering for another term. If you have a high number of Incomplete units, you will likely be emailed about meeting with an L&S College Adviser to discuss your plan so a decision about continued registration can be made.
Contact your course instructor and discuss if receiving an INC grade is a possibility. Considerations for granting an INC grade include:
You are responsible for completing all outstanding course work by the set submission deadline. Once received, the instructor will grade your work and submit a revised grade to the Office of the Registrar. Please allow 2-3 weeks following the deadline for your record to be updated.