Incomplete grades (IN) may be assigned
at the discretion of an instructor who believes that an extension of time is
warranted for a student whose work is incomplete at the end of the semester as
a result of extraordinary circumstances. The student must have satisfactorily
completed at least 60 percent of the coursework to be eligible to receive a grade of
incomplete. An instructor assigning an incomplete grade should submit an
Incomplete Form, which outlines a deadline by which the student is required to
submit missing or incomplete work in order to receive a letter grade. The
incomplete grade will automatically convert to the grade indicated on the form
(usually an F) if the agreed upon deadline and requirements are not met.
Time Limits for Incompletes
Work must be completed and a change of grade submitted no later
than the end of the same semester in the following academic year (fall
courses must be completed by the end of the following fall semester, for
example). After that date the IN grade will automatically convert to
the grade indicated on the Incomplete Form. A one-time, one semester
extension may be
requested in writing from the master of public administration (M.P.A.)
director, and subject to approval by the M.P.A. executive committee. If a
graduate student has 6 or more credits of incomplete coursework, future
course registration will be denied unless waived in specific cases by
the M.P.A. director. It is the student's responsibility to.ensure that
an Incomplete Form is completed before the grading period closes for the
semester in which they are enrolled.
W (Withdrawal)
Used when a student has withdrawn with permission of the proper authority.
F (Failing Grades)
Students earning a failing grade (below C) in any core course shall:
-
immediately be returned to academic probationary status; and
- be subject to an administrative review by the associate dean of student and academic services.
The associate dean will then determine an appropriate course of action for the
affected student, with two options:
- dismissal from the program, or
- permission to retake the course in which the failing grade was earned.
Students who are permitted to
retake a course in which a failing grade was earned may return to regular
status when:
- a passing grade
is earned in the relevant course, and
- the student's GPA
returns to the threshold.
Students who earn more than
one failing grade in any single course will be dismissed from the program. Students
should be aware that grades, failing or not, will affect their GPA and that
this policy in no way circumvents GPA requirements for program continuation or
graduation.
Academic Policies and Procedures 
