Incomplete

Award of Incomplete Grade 

The grade of  Incomplete (I ) may be awarded only at the end of a term when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed and the student is unable to finish due to extenuating circumstances. The  I  grade is awarded if it would be possible for the student to earn a passing grade once the remaining coursework is completed, per instructor determination. 

The grade of  I  is not to be awarded in place of a failing grade or when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case, a grade other than  I  must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incomplete grade before the end of the term.  

Instructors must use the Report of Incomplete Grade form  as a contract with the student as to what course work must be completed by the student for the  I  grade to be removed and replaced with a grade. On the form, the instructor states:
  1. Which assignments or exams should be completed and when
  2. How this work will be graded
  3. How the student's course grade will be calculated.
Both the instructor and student sign this agreement, and both should retain copies. 
After the course work is completed, the instructor should assign the appropriate grade on the UAccess grade roster. 

Effective Fall Semester 1977, if the incomplete grade is not removed by the instructor within one year, the  I  grade will convert to a failing grade. 

  • For undergraduate courses, the one-year limit may be extended for one additional year if approved by the instructor and student's college dean. See the Incomplete Grade policy in the University Catalog for complete details.  Please use the Petition for Extension of Coursework for an Incomplete Course form to request an extension of an incomplete grade. 

  • Graduate students should use the petition in GradPath to initiate a request for an extension of their incomplete course. 

  • A request for an extension beyond two (2) academic years of the original course enrollment requires approval by the University General Petition Committee (petitions require instructor and dean's signatures). 

  • For courses taken for graduate credit, such approval may be granted only by the Graduate College. 

For more information, visit the Grades & the Grading System policies in the University Catalog.  

For any questions, please contact us at Reg-grades@arizona.edu