The grading system of the University is explained in the academic requirements section of the General Bulletin. Once the final grade in a course has been reported by the instructor to the Registrar it cannot be changed except in cases of error in recording. A final grade may be changed only by permission of the department head and the dean of the college or school.
The grade of "I" (Incomplete) is used only in those exceptional cases when a student for reasons beyond his or her control has failed to complete a well-defined portion of a course. In addition to reporting an "I" on the class grade sheet, the instructor should also report on a special form (available from the deans and the Registrar) entitled "Assignment of Incomplete Grade," the specific nature of the work to be completed by the student. If the "I" grade is not cleared within the student's next residence semester, it becomes a final grade and is computed as work attempted in determining the student's academic status unless the instructor notifies the Registrar that the "I" is to be carried for an additional semester. A student may not re- register for a course in which he or she has received an "I"; by so doing, the "I" becomes "IE" and is not repeatable under the Forgiveness Policy.
A faculty member leaving the University with "grades" of "Incomplete" assigned has the responsibility of filing the special form, "Assignment of Incomplete Grades," with the departmental chairman.
The Faculty Senate has approved a grade appeals system which affords the student the opportunity to appeal a grade which the student feels was inequitably assigned in that a gross violation of the instructor's own specified grading standards occurred. (See Section 8.11 below.) (The grade appeals system is also described in detail in the academic requirements section of the General Bulletin.) The faculty member has the responsibility to explain to students in his or her classes at the beginning of each term the specified grading standards to be used along with a statement of the goals and objectives of the courses to be taught.