INCOMPLETES AND LATE WITHDRAWALS

Incompletes

A grade of "I" (Incomplete) may be given to a student if the student is making acceptable progress (passing) in the course and the student is faced with an unavoidable situation near the end of the semester that prevents him/her from finishing the course by the end of the semester. The grade of "I" is granted to the student by the instructor. It is not a grade that is just assumed by the student.

When a student and instructor agree that an "I" is appropriate and desireable the terms of the "I" are documented and signed. These terms include the current standing of the student in the class (grades so far), specific details as to what work needs to be done yet for the student to complete the course and a time frame in which the work will be completed.

One example of an "I" that was given concerned a student whose mother died during the last week of fall semester classes. The student needed to tend to her family and missed the final exam. She was given a grade of "I." When she returned to school in the spring she took the final exam, and so COMPLETED the course, and her grade was changed appropriately.

A grade of "I" is NOT to be used simply as a mechanism for postponing or avoiding receiving an undesirable grade. It is not to be used to put a grade "on hold" while the student retakes the course. For this reason we are very strict that a student must be passing the course and the unavoidable situation must occur near the end of the semester so that the student truly only needs to do some relatively small amount of work to complete the course requirements.

Late Withdrawals

A student who wishes to withdraw from the course after the Withdrawal Deadline must get the approval of Academic Advising. It is not in the jurisdiction of your instructor, or even of the math department, to grant a late withdrawal. The student should be warned that late withdrawal petitions are very rarely accepted. DO NOT use "I'll just get a late withdrawal" as an academic strategy. This will almost assuredly backfire and leave you with an undesireable transcript.

One more piece of advice: If you decide to drop the course before the withdrawal deadline be sure to check BANNER to make sure that your drop transaction actually processed. You don't want a surprise at the end of the semester.