Extensions and Incompletes

Most courses are cumulative and are designed to enable students to complete work within one semester. The instructor’s assessment is based on the contributions made and work completed within that time period. For these reasons, it is important to your learning, to your classmates, and to your instructor that you do your part by preparing for and attending classes regularly and by submitting assignments and taking quizzes/tests/exams on the schedule devised by your instructor and within the college-wide deadlines for the semester. 

Nonetheless, situations may arise that interfere with a student’s ability to meet one of their deadlines and a student may reach out to their instructor to request an extension. Please note that an extension is not guaranteed and your instructor is not required to provide one.

During the 14 weeks of classes  

If you think you will be unable to meet a deadline set by your instructor, here are some guidelines about your next steps. 

• Review your notes, your syllabus and Moodle for any policies your instructor may have announced regarding work completed after a deadline.   
• Contact your instructor as soon as you become aware that you are unlikely to meet a deadline. This is not only a courtesy and sign of respect; it is also a practical step that enables your instructor to partner with you to devise a solution. 
• Carefully and honestly assess for yourself the reason you are behind.  In many cases, it is a combination of things: time management, unexpected disruptions to day-to-day life, illness, a personal or family emergency.  You do not need to go into details with your professor, but you do need to provide an honest explanation. Along with asking your instructor for an extended deadline, consider what changes you might need to make in order to meet the new deadline and to meet future deadlines in this course and in others.  
• If you find you are behind in more than one course, or that you are asking for repeated extensions, consult with your dean about how to proceed. You may also want to consult with the Office of Academic Support. Your instructor may also ask you to talk with your dean before they can approve the solution you propose. 

Extensions into finals week

Your instructors have designed your courses to enable you to complete all but a final exam, paper, or project while classes are in session. To give students time during finals week to focus on the final pieces of work for their classes, students are expected to submit all other assignments by 5:00 pm on the last day of classes, known as the “deadline for written work.” Occasionally, a student might receive permission from their instructor to submit work during finals week. Students in this situation should work with their instructor directly to set priorities so that they can complete all work for the semester, including their work for finals, by the last day of exams. Extensions into finals week do not require class dean approval.
 

Incomplete policy

In the case of serious illness, mental health crisis, family emergency, or some other emergency that arises during the final week of the semester or finals period itself, students may be eligible for an incomplete. Students may be requested to provide documentation to support their request.

• Approval is needed from both the faculty and the class dean.
• The deadline for a student to complete all outstanding course requirements and an incomplete to be resolved will be no later than December 31 (Fall semester) and May 31 (Spring semester).

It is important to note that an incomplete is not applicable if:

• A student has completed less than 50% of course expectations prior to an incomplete request.
• A student has stopped attending class or has had very sporadic attendance beyond the 6th week of the semester.
• A student has fallen behind in submitting work beyond the 6th week of the semester without sufficient documentation to support late work.
• A student is interested in more time to earn a better grade in the course.

When seeking out approval for an incomplete:

• A student is required to first meet with their Class Dean.
• Following this meeting, students will be asked to complete a Student Incomplete Request Form, share this completed form with their faculty, and seek approval from their faculty.
• If the faculty approve, they should stipulate the work that remains to be completed in order for a final grade to be recorded.

Once Coursework Has Been Submitted:

• Outstanding coursework must be completed by the incomplete deadline (December 31 for the fall semester and May 31 for the spring semester).
• The faculty will review and grade the outstanding academic work and submit a final grade to the Registrar’s Office no later than the first Friday of January (fall) or the first Friday of June (spring).
• If outstanding coursework is not submitted by the incomplete deadline, students will receive a “0” on those outstanding assignments and a final grade will be assigned.

As always, grades below merit, failures or withdrawals may trigger review by the Committee on Academic Standing. The student may be placed on warning, probation, academic leave, or dismissal from the college. Information on satisfactory academic progress can be found here.
 

Note: Students seeking extensions or incompletes in Haverford classes must follow Haverford's procedures and deadlines. See Haverford's Academic Regulation Guidebook for more information.