In-Progress Grade Policy
At the end of any semester, an instructor may assign a grade of in-progress (IP) if
extenuating circumstances have prevented the student from completing all course requirements.
An IP grade is appropriate ONLY in situations where the student has completed at least
75 percent of the course requirements based on the professional judgment of the instructor.
Any exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the provost. The instructor
shall make a professional judgment on a case-by-case basis concerning the efficacy
of assigning an IP grade.
If a grade of IP is to be assigned, the instructor will make a written contract with
the student, list work to be completed, and provide a specific date for completion
of the course work. The IP contract should be signed by the student, instructor, and
dean (or dean鈥檚 designee). The instructor will then file the contract with the Registrar鈥檚
Office, which will enter the IP grade for the student.
If the remaining course requirements are not completed by the end of the subsequent
spring or fall semester and a final grade has not been assigned by the instructor,
the IP grade will be changed to an F. If the contract on file in the Registrar鈥檚 Office
has a later completion date, that contract date is the final deadline for assigning
a final grade. The IP contract cannot be extended beyond the original date without
permission from the dean.
In instances when extenuating circumstances prevent the instructor and student from
completing the IP contract before the end of the course, the instructor should email
the registrar and copy the dean with a request to assign an IP grade. The request
should include the reason why the instructor could not complete the IP contract with
the student (e.g., a student is hospitalized just before the final exam and is not
available to come to campus to sign the paperwork). The instructor and student will
be expected to complete an IP contract as soon as circumstances allow, with the completed
contract forwarded to the Registrar鈥檚 Office.