Policy on Incomplete Coursework
Students should complete the work of graduate courses, both 500- and 700-level, during the regular academic term in which they are taken. Failure to do so often results in deferred reenrollment, which in turn has an impact on the student’s financial support and registration and course enrollment for the next academic year.
This expectation of students should also guide faculty members who teach graduate courses. That is, faculty are obliged to evaluate and grade graduate student work by the end of the term in which the course is given. A grade of “Incomplete” (INC) should be given only in exceptional circumstances when there are compelling reasons, discussed in advance between the course head and the student, either for the student’s not turning in the work by the end of the academic term or for the course head’s not grading the work by the end of the academic term.
- Set rules or policies governing “Incomplete” coursework, communicate them to their students early and clearly, and then enforce their policies strictly and fairly, especially during the annual Reenrollment process. Failure to do so leaves students uncertain about their own academic progress and their department’s academic standards.
- If a grade of Incomplete is given, the department should record when the student turns in the final paper and notify the course head. The director of graduate studies has the responsibility of following up with the faculty member to get the work graded.