DE Oracle @ UMUC

The Complete Story on Incompletes

CSI Staff

Staff Writer

Center for Support of Instruction

Published: 0 2004

Category: » Fac-resources » Policies

As demands continue to increase for our students, so do the requests for grades of incomplete. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to review the policy, which has changed recently, while providing some pointers on the process.

Policy 170.71 details UMUC's official procedure on incompletes, but we have highlighted some of the more important points below:

• The grade of "I" is exceptional and given only to students whose completed coursework has been qualitatively satisfactory but who have been unable to complete all course requirements because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control.
• In the Graduate School, the grade of "I" may be considered only for students who have completed at least 60 percent of the total coursework requirements with a grade of B or better for graduate courses. In addition:
  • The student must request an "I" before the end of the semester.
  • The faculty member retains the right to make the final decision on granting a student's request for an "I", even though the student may meet the eligibility requirements for this grade.
  • If the request is approved, the faculty member will determine a deadline within four months of the last day of the semester during which the course was attempted.
  • The faculty member will notify the student of this assigned deadline in writing.
• It is the responsibility of the student to complete and submit the remaining course work before the assigned deadline. In addition:
  • The faculty member will submit a grade change, converting the "I" to a letter grade within two weeks of receiving the student's completed work.
  • If the student does not meet the deadline, the "I" will automatically be converted to a final grade of F.
  • Faculty may not issue a terminal "I" grade.

In a conversation with a Program Director we asked for some practical advice on how best to administer the incomplete. Dr. Sayani, Software Engineering Program, suggests including the following details in the contract that is drafted with the student: 

• work completed to date
• grades earned to date
• work yet to be completed
• anticipated grade if work is completed at a level consistent with previous deliverables
• deadline for all deliverables
• date the actual grade must be submitted.

To keep himself organized when preparing grades, Dr. Sayani always notes the "I" plus the grade that would be received if all work is completed at a level consistent with previous deliverables. So for example, an "IB", would indicate that an "I" is to be placed on the grade roll. If the conditions of the contract are met, he expects the grade would be converted to a "B". He also stresses that, "An incomplete should not be treated as a sympathy grade".

His final advice is to put a reminder on your calendar as soon as the contract is drafted and make sure that the date fits within your schedule giving you adequate time to grade the deliverables and submit the grade within two weeks.

For more information on incompletes, please contact your Program Director or the Dean's office.