Incomplete Grades

FAQ for Faculty

What is an Incomplete and why would a student be granted an "I"?

• The grade of "I" indicates that unforeseen circumstances have prevented the student from completing course work on time.
• The student should have completed a substantial portion of the course and the course work should be of passing quality.
• Assigning an "I" is at the faculty member's discretion.

How do I process the Incomplete Grade?

• Enter "I" on the web roster and submit grades.
• You will automatically be brought to the "Incomplete Final Grades" page. On this page, enter the default grade (other than UW) that will be assigned to the student if they DO NOT complete the outstanding course work. You can also select a reason for assigning the Incomplete from a drop menu at the same point when they enter the default grade. If unchanged, the default reason is "Missing Assignment(s)".
• For undergraduate and graduate students, you will also have the option to shorten the pre-determined University deadline. For graduate students, you will also have the option to lengthen the pre-determined University deadline up to one year from the end of the semester. (If a date greater than one year is entered, Academic Records will automatically change it to the one year deadline.)

What are my deadlines as an instructor?

• Final Grades must be entered no later than December 29 for the fall semester, the first Friday after Commencement for the spring semester, and six business days following the last class/final examination for summer and January sessions.
• Instructor will decide the time frame in which the student will complete the required course work. For undergraduates, time frame may not exceed the last day of the next full semester following the granting of the "I" grade (see exception below). For graduates, time frame may not exceed one calendar year from the close of the semester or session in which the course was taken.
• Instructor is required to submit a grade for the student within 30 days after the student has submitted work to fulfill the agreed upon terms. If the incomplete work is not completed by the contracted deadline, the Incomplete grade will convert to the default grade as entered on the "Incomplete Final Grades" webpage .

Is there ever a time when I can make the deadline longer than one term?

• In cases where lab work is required or the student is working on an Independent Study, additional time may be granted. To request an extension to the pre-determined University deadline, please email: Academic Records using your Hofstra email account.

Where can I get the optional Incomplete Grade Form?
If you would like to keep a record on the reasoning, a template is available online: hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/StudentServices/Academicrecords/acdrec_forms.html

Can a student who has been given an Incomplete grade attend regular class meetings of the same course in the following term?

• No, a student will not be allowed to attend the regular class meetings at the next offering of the course.

When did this policy go into effect?

• This policy is effective for all undergraduate students beginning fall 2008 and applies to all course work.
• This policy is effective for all graduate students beginning fall 2011 and applies to all course work.
• The online submission of the default grade and deadline begins fall 2009.

Will this policy affect a student's Incompletes from a term prior to fall 2008?

• No. This policy applies only to Incompletes received fall 2008 and later. Permanent incompletes received prior to fall 2008 remain as is.

What if a student who is a candidate for graduation requests an "I"? How will this affect the student's planned date of graduation?

• Students cannot graduate with incomplete grades (received fall 2008 or later) on their record.
• All requirements, including the resolution of such incompletes, must be completed and on record in the Office of Academic Records by the end of the first week in June for May degree candidates, the end of the first week of January for December degree candidates, and the end of the first week of September for August degree candidates. Please keep these deadlines in mind when establishing your incomplete deadlines for degree candidates.
• If requirements, including incompletes are not completed by the above deadlines, students will be graduated in the next graduation period upon completion of all outstanding requirements. This may result in students having to maintain matriculation, which has an associated fee for terms beyond their registration.