Topics Map > Academic > Graduation
Topics Map > Academic > Academic Standing & Grades
Topics Map > Academic > Academic Policies & Procedures
Policy on Incomplete Grades
An Incomplete (I) grade (IN for Cr/N courses) is a temporary grade that an instructor can give when a student cannot complete all coursework by the end of the term because of illness or another unusual and substantiated cause beyond their control. Students are eligible for an Incomplete grade if they:
-
Are earning a passing grade to-date in the course, and
-
Have a limited amount of work that they need to complete
Students who meet the eligibility requirements listed above must ask their instructor for an Incomplete grade before the course ends. The instructor decides if the request is reasonable, and the student and instructor agree on the coursework to be completed and a plan to submit the work. CALS recommends students complete the work as soon as possible to maximize recall of knowledge and allow for capacity to focus attention on current coursework.
Students with an Incomplete grade must resolve that grade before they can graduate. If this resolution means that the student now has all graduation requirements fulfilled, the degree will be awarded for the term the work is completed, not for the term the course was originally taken.
Final Deadlines for Incomplete grades assigned Fall 2025 and after
[Content placeholder inside panel Final Deadlines for Incomplete grades assigned Fall 2025 and after . This content will be shown/hidden as the panel is toggled.]
-
Incomplete grades assigned in spring or summer term must be changed to a final grade by the instructor by the Friday of the eighth week of the following fall term. Instructors will likely set earlier deadlines for submission of student work.
-
Incomplete grades assigned in fall term must be changed to a final grade by the instructor by the Friday of the eighth week of the following spring term. Instructors will likely set earlier deadlines for submission of student work.
What happens if I don’t complete the coursework as directed by the instructor?
[Content placeholder inside panel What happens if I don’t complete the coursework as directed by the instructor? . This content will be shown/hidden as the panel is toggled.]
-
If the Incomplete grade is not changed to a final grade by the deadline, the grade will be changed automatically to an F (or N for Credit/No Credit courses).
-
If the work cannot be completed by the deadline because of extenuating circumstances, the instructor can decide to provide an extension by changing the grade to an Extended Incomplete (EI) grade.
- The EI grade change must include a deadline date, which cannot be later than the last day of instruction for the current term.
-
If the EI grade is not updated by the instructor by the provided deadline, the grade will be changed automatically to an F (or N for Credit/No Credit courses).
Incomplete grades assigned in previous terms (Summer term 2025 or before)
[Content placeholder inside panel Incomplete grades assigned in previous terms (Summer term 2025 or before) . This content will be shown/hidden as the panel is toggled.]
-
Incomplete grades assigned prior to fall 2025 were given under the old policy which applies as follows:
-
-
For students who received an Incomplete grade in either Spring or Summer 2025 and are enrolled for Fall 2025, the grade must be changed to a final grade by the instructor by December 10, 2025. Students must work with their instructor to plan how the work will be completed in that timeframe. It is recommended to complete the work as soon as possible to maximize recall of knowledge and allow for capacity to focus attention on current coursework.
-
-
-
If a student received an Incomplete grade prior to Fall 2025, left the university, and then returns within five years, the deadline will be the Friday of the eighth week of the semester in which they return.
-
-
-
Students who received an Incomplete grade prior to Fall 2025 and never re-enroll will have their Incomplete (I) grade changed to a Permanent Incomplete (PI) after five years. A Permanent Incomplete grade will not lapse into a failing grade and does not prevent a student from graduating. Courses with PI grades do not count toward any requirements or provide credits.
-
Extended Incomplete (EI) is a temporary grade that can be granted by an instructor in limited circumstances, which allows the work to be complete by the last day of class for the second active term the student is enrolled before the grade lapses to an F. This normally allows one year to complete the work. If an instructor grants an Extended Incomplete, a grade change will need to be filed by the instructor and sent to CALS Academic Affairs Dean’s Office. In such cases the grade of Incomplete (I) will be replaced with the grade of Extended Incomplete (EI). Students must work with their instructor to plan how the work will be completed in that timeframe. It is recommended to complete the work as soon as possible to maximize recall of knowledge and ensure attention on current coursework.
Permanent Incomplete (PI) is a permanent grade that is only used to replace an Incomplete that 1) was incurred in a student’s last semester in residence and 2) was not removed for five years after being incurred. A Permanent Incomplete grade will not lapse into failing grade and will remain on the student’s transcript.
Related pages: Graduation Policy, Undergraduate and Special (NonDegree) Student Lapsed Incomplete Grades