The grade of “I” (incomplete) is a neutral mark, not an alternative to a grade of “F.” No student who is failing a course when grades are awarded may receive an “I.” The student should have completed a substantial portion of the required coursework for the semester satisfactorily to receive an “I.” The “I” grade is intended to be temporary and to be used when a student, for reasons acceptable to the instructor, is unable to complete certain identifiable requirements of a course and cannot be assigned another grade. For example, missing a final exam because of illness or inability to submit a term project for extenuating circumstances might constitute a student’s being granted an “I.”
Simply indicating coursework is “incomplete” is not an acceptable explanation of the “I” grade. The instructor will communicate to the student what must be done to complete the course and set an appropriate deadline, which may not exceed one calendar year from the end of the term in which the student received the “I.”
If no change of grade has been submitted by the end of one year, the grade of “I” will become permanent on the student’s record. After a grade of “I” has become permanent, the student may re-enroll in the course. Coursework at another institution cannot be used to complete the requirements for the OU Health Sciences course in which a student has received an “I” grade. If the student graduates with a grade of “I” on the record, it becomes permanent.
