General Grading Information

Change of Grades

The grade that an instructor records on the final grade sheet and that appears on the student's subsequent transcript is assumed to be final; that is, the instructor's official evaluation of all of a student's performance and work completed by the official end of the term (the last day of the final examination week).

Recognizing that mistakes can be made, the UM-Dearborn permits a student to ask an instructor for a review of a grade within the five-week period after the end of the term involved. After a five-week period has passed, reviews cannot be initiated and grades cannot be changed. Such a review is entirely separate and distinct from the circumstances involving an I (Incomplete Coursework), X (Absent from Final Examination), or a Y (Course Extends Beyond Term).

Absent from Final Examination

A student who is unavoidably absent from a final examination may, upon timely completion, be granted the privilege of making up the examination within five weeks after the closing date of the term involved. If granted this privilege, a grade of X will be recorded. Failure to take the examination within the specified time, or the denial of this privilege by the instructor, will result in a grade of E for the final grade. In extenuating circumstances, an extension beyond the stated period may be requested by means of a petition that has been endorsed by the instructor. However, such arrangements for completing the work must be made within the above five-week period. The grade of X will automatically be converted to XE and reflected in the student's grade point average as a failing grade if the Supplementary Grade Report is not submitted by the end of the five-week period.

Incomplete Coursework

A student who is unable to complete the work for a given course, other than the final examination, may be granted an incomplete by the instructor if the following circumstances exist:

• The student has completed the majority of the coursework, such that the remaining work can be finished in five weeks or less
• Considering the student’s current grade, a passing grade could still be earned in the class upon the successful completion of all incomplete work
• The work is unfinished for reasons acceptable to the instructor
• The work needing to be completed can be finished outside of regular class sessions.  If the student must be present in class to finish the work, the student must re-register for the course

If the instructor agrees to the incomplete, a contract outlining the remaining work and stipulating the due date must be completed by the instructor and student, approved by the student’s academic unit, and submitted to the Office of the Registrar. A grade of “I” will be recorded for the course. The deadline is up to five weeks after the start of the subsequent term (including the Summer term) to complete the coursework. The instructor has seven days after the due date to submit a grade. The “I” will remain in front of the final grade. Unfinished incomplete marks will lapse to a failing grade. 

Students who are unable to complete their work within the five week period may petition their unit’s Academic Standards Committee to extend the deadline. The student must present documented unexpected circumstances that prevented completion of the course by the standard deadline, and the extension must be supported by the instructor.

Course Extends Beyond Term

A mark of Y indicates that a course extends beyond the end of one term. This mark is only used for courses that have been specially designed and approved to extend beyond the end of one term. The student has up to one year (52 weeks) after the start of the subsequent term to complete the course. The faculty member then has one week to submit a grade. If the grade is not submitted by that time, the Y will be converted to an E. Students who are unable to complete their work within the one year period may petition their unit’s Academic Standards Committee to extend the deadline. The student must present documented unexpected circumstances that prevented completion of the course by the standard deadline, a detailed plan and timeline to complete the remaining work, and the extension and plan must be supported by the instructor. A course with a Y mark may not be completed after graduation. If such a course is not completed, the Y will be converted to an E upon graduation.

Graduate students: The one year (52 week) limit does not apply to students enrolled in Masters or Doctoral programs however the Y grade will be converted to an E upon graduation. Students who are unable to complete their work before graduation may petition their unit’s Academic Standards Committee to convert the Y grade to a W prior to graduation.

• During the Grading period, the Web "idle" time-out is extended to 30 minutes. The Web will automatically log out after 30 minutes of inactivity. To ensure your grades are being submitted (saved), please click the Submit button often to save your grades!
• The web grade sheet lists 25 students per page. If your course has more than 25 students, click the Submit button to save any entered grades, then click one of the Current Record Set buttons to advance to the next page. It is essential that you click the Submit button to save your grades prior to advancing to the next page. Failure to do so will cause a loss of all grades entered on the page. The Current Record Set buttons are located directly above and below the list of students.
• Beginning the second day of exams, grades will be "rolled" daily at approximately 3:00 p.m. The "roll" process (done in the Office of Registration &Records) posts the final grade(s) you submit to the student's Academic History. The grade is then available to the student. Review your grades carefully and make changes immediately. Once grades are rolled, the grades cannot be changed via the Web. If you need to change a grade(s) for a student after the "roll" process has been performed on your course, you must complete a Supplementary Grade Report form and forward it to your Academic Unit for processing.
• I (Incomplete) or X (Absent from Exam) grades - The College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Education, Health, and Human Services, and College of Business require an original I Grade Contract Form for I grades. Contracts for X grades will no longer be required. Rackham does not require either.