University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog
Incomplete Course Work
University Policy
Requirements for incomplete course work are
determined by each academic unit. Please refer
to unit information below.
Additional Unit Policies
College of Arts and Sciences
Students unable to complete course work
because of conditions beyond their control, in
particular because of severe illness, may be
granted an “Incomplete” so that the work can be
completed. The “Incomplete” was not created to
prolong the available time in a semester for
students who fall behind for reasons under their
control. Instructors are required to demonstrate
that the proper conditions were met for students
receiving an “Incomplete.”
Those conditions are:
 The majority of the course work was
completed by the end of the semester; AND
 The performance in course work completed
by the end of the semester met the published
standards for a passing grade; AND
 The final portion of the course work could
not be completed for reasons beyond the
student’s control.
Instructors’ requests for documentation of the
extenuating circumstances must be honored by
the student.
Students must complete the course work no later
than the end of the next regular semester (by the
next fall if the incomplete was given in a spring
or summer semester; by the spring semester of
the same academic year if incompletes were
given in the fall semester). Failure to complete
the work by the deadline will result in an
automatic change of grade from “I” to “F” unless
the Dean grants an extension. If the work is
completed by the deadline, the instructor will
submit a change of grade from “I” to the letter
grade earned. The change of grade forms will not
be accepted if delivered by the student.
Note: Students with an incomplete should not register again
for the course.
College of Business
"I" means incomplete. It is granted to students
University Policies
Summer 2011 – Spring 2012
unable to complete the last requirements of a
course because of circumstances beyond their
control and given at the instructor's discretion.
Students must complete the course work within
120 days, or the "I" is automatically changed to
an "F". An "I" does not enter into grade point
calculations until it is changed to a letter grade;
however, the hours from the incomplete courses
are used to determine academic standing.
Note: Students with an incomplete should not register again
for the course.
College of Education & Human Development
A grade of "I" means "work in course
incomplete" and carries no quality points until
the incomplete is removed, at which time quality
points are given according to the grade earned.
Work must be completed by the end of the next
semester. Otherwise the "I" becomes "F" unless
an extension has been granted.
Dental Hygiene Program
The “I” grade represents insufficient
information to permit proper evaluation of
the student’s performance. A student cannot
graduate with an “I” grade. The following
will determine the disposition of the “I”
grade:
1. An unresolved “I” grade automatically
will be changed to an “F” grade two
weeks after the last day of final
examinations for the subsequent term
(fall or spring).
2. All conditions associated with the
removal of the “I” grade must be
conveyed to the student and the
Associate Dean for Pre-doctoral
Education in writing within ten (10)
business days after the grade has been
officially recorded.
Kent School of Social Work
A grade of “I” (incomplete) may be awarded as a
temporary or conditional grade when students
are passing a course, but for reasons beyond their
control have not been able to complete a
relatively small amount of the course
requirements by the end of the semester.
Typically an incomplete grade is only given for
course work that is not completed due to
Incomplete Course Work
University of Louisville Undergraduate Catalog Summer 2011 – Spring 2012

extenuating circumstances. Students must apply

via e-mail to their instructor for permission to
take the grade of incomplete and copy the BSW
Co-Directors for approval. Incompletes turn into
F at the end of the following semester. Summer
counts as a semester, therefore students with
incompletes at the end of the Spring semester,
must complete the work before the end of the
summer semester to avoid an F on their
transcript.

School of Music
“I” automatically becomes “F” unless removed
by the end of the next semester (or after six
weeks for applied study).

School of Nursing
In the event a student is unable to complete the
course requirements by the end of the semester
because of circumstances beyond their control ,
the instructor has the option to award "I" in place
of the grade. "I" means work in course is
Incomplete and does not enter into the grade
computations until a grade is awarded or it
becomes an "F". The student has until the end of
the next Fall or Spring semester to complete the
required course work. If the work is not
completed by this deadline, the grade will
automatically change to "F".

Speed School of Engineering

In reporting the grade “I”, instructors shall state
the nature of the work that is lacking. The
deficiency must be made up within the school’s
next academic term. Failure to complete the
work within this period will result in a grade of
“F” being recorded against the student. When the
required work is completed, the instructor will
submit a grade authorization form changing the
“I” to the letter grade earned. When the grade of
“F” is given in any required course, the student
shall repeat the course or take an approved
equivalent at the first opportunity.

University Policies Incomplete Course Work