Incomplete Grade Policy

Criteria for Assigning an Incomplete Grade

• According to University policy, an 'I' grade "will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances (as determined by the instructor), the student who has successfully completed a substantial portion of the course's work with a passing grade was prevented from completing the work of the course on time."

Requirements

• Both student and instructor must sign a written agreement that specifies what work will be completed and the completion date.

• The period of time allowed by the contract may not be longer than one year.

Note: If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent the student from resolving the incomplete within one year, the agreement may be renegotiated and extended at the instructor’s discretion.

Timeframe for Grade Change

• After one year from the last day of final exams of the term the student received the 'I,' the instructor will automatically change the grade to an 'F' or 'N,' depending on the grade basis.

• Under extreme circumstances, and with the permission of the instructor, the incomplete can be made up even after it has lapsed to an 'F' or 'N'.

Contract

Complete the Incomplete Grade Agreement.

Contract Management

• MA and PhD students: signed contracts should be submitted to the GPC. 

• Parent and Family Education students: signed contracts should be submitted to famed@umn.edu.

Change of ‘I’ grade

• The course instructor is responsible for reviewing and grading outstanding coursework.

• If requirements are satisfactorily met, the course instructor is responsible for issuing the final course grade.

• Once the terms of the contract are satisfied, the student is responsible for notifying the GPC so that this can be noted on the Incomplete Contract Agreement and a copy can be placed in the student’s file.

Note: If a course instructor leaves the university prior to the completion of the Incomplete, the Department is responsible for notifying the student and assigning an appropriate faculty member to oversee all aspects of the departing instructor’s active incompletes. This includes reviewing/grading outstanding coursework, enforcing stipulations of the written agreement, changing grades in the system, and updating records of the departed instructor’s active incompletes.