Original – Registrar Copy – Financial Aid
Revised: October 2015 Office of the Registrar
RULES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING INCOMPLETE COURSE ATTEMPTS
1. Approval for incomplete course attempts is granted only under compelling circumstances, which must be documented and
attached to the petition if additional space is needed. JD students must obtain the written consent of the director for student
services. LLM students must obtain the written consent of their LLM program directors. The director for student services or
LLM program director may consult with the instructor of the course and will inform the student if a decision is made to deny
the petition.
2. The petition for an incomplete must be submitted by the date of the last class meeting of the course for courses that have
class meetings, or by the last day of instruction for the term as indicated in the academic calendar for courses that do not have
class meetings, such as independent study courses. However, a petition for an incomplete may not be submitted after all
work upon which the student will be graded is due. Failure to request an incomplete by the appropriate date results in an
automatic waiver of the right to request an incomplete.
3. At the time the incomplete is approved, the director for student services or LLM program director will determine, in
consultation with the course instructor, whether students will be allowed to re-enroll in the course or receive an extension of
deadline to complete course requirements. Students will not be given an extension of deadline to complete any course graded
by a final exam.
4. If a petition for an incomplete course is denied, the student has the right to withdraw from the course up until the last business
day before the exam or up until the last business day of the exam period if the course has no final exam. However, no student
may withdraw from a course after all work upon which the student will be graded is due. The withdrawal will be subject to
normal tuition forfeiture policies.
5. All incomplete courses must be completed within one academic year of the end of the initial course. For example, an
incomplete course initially attempted in the fall term must be completed by the last day of the exam period of the following
fall term. If a student fails to complete an incomplete course within this timeframe, the incomplete automatically converts to
a grade of “W” for “Withdrawn.” The deadline to complete an incomplete course may be extended if the student is unable to
complete it because of an approved leave of absence, the Law School is not offering the course, or there is not space available
in a course section prior to its expiration.
6. Extensions of deadline to complete course requirements are only available for courses for which the student has completed
all requirements except for work that can be completed outside the classroom, such as a final paper or clinic hours. The
instructor must approve the petition and set a new deadline. Any extension beyond the last day of the term must be approved
by Law Student Services or the LLM program director. All work must be completed within one academic year of the end of
the initial course.
7. If a student receives an extension of deadline to complete course requirements for the term after which the student intends to
graduate, the student must resolve the incomplete course by the deadline indicated below or the student’s graduation will be
postponed until the term in which the course is completed. The deadline for resolving an incomplete course before the grade
is automatically converted to “W” for “Withdrawn” is not altered by these deadlines. Deadlines for resolving an incomplete
course attempt in order to graduate: Fall Term -- January 31; Spring Term -- June 30; Summer Term -- September 15. The
incomplete course is deemed to be resolved when the instructor submits the final grade to the Registrar’s Office.
8. If permission for re-enrollment is granted, the student will be allowed to re-enroll in another section of the course within the
next academic year on a space-available basis. The Law School does not guarantee that every course will be offered every
academic year, so re-enrollment may not be an option. If the course is offered in the next academic year, the student might
not be able to re-enroll in the section of his/her choice if it is already full or per the decision of the director of student
services. If a student is unable to re-enroll within one academic year, the student may seek permission to enroll in a
substitute course. A student who intends to complete an incomplete course attempt should not re-register for the course, but
should instead submit a Notice of Intent to Complete Course form to the Law School Registrar’s Office.
9. Students do not receive a refund of tuition for a course in which they receive an Incomplete. Students are not charged tuition
upon re-enrollment. Consequently, units for courses students are completing are not included in calculating their eligibility
for financial aid. Students who are only re-enrolling in courses for which they were granted an Incomplete and who are not
enrolling in any new courses will be charged the fees for the term, but no tuition. Students are advised to consult with the
Financial Aid Office regarding the impact re-enrolling in an incomplete course may have on their financial aid.
10. If permission for re-enrollment is granted, when the Notice of Intent to Complete Course form is received by the Registrar’s
Office, the incomplete grade for the original attempt will be changed to a “W” for “Withdrawn.” When the instructor reports
a final grade, it will be recorded for the term the student completes the course.
