COLUMBIA COLLEGE / COLUMBIA ENGINEERING
Requesting an Incomplete / Deferred Exam
Policy
As established by the Columbia College and Columbia Engineering Committees on Instruction, students must
complete all course work within the bounds of a semester unless granted an Incomplete (INC) by the Committee
on Academic Standing. Individual faculty and instructors are not authorized to grant INCs. Please note:
Students will be granted an INC only for incapacitating illness as certified by Health Services at Columbia,
serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity which prevent the completion of work
specifically due at the end of the semester.
Procedural Steps
1. Students should submit one completed Application to Request an Incomplete and Instructor Form for
each course prior to the exam date. A completed request consists of the application form, the instructor
form, and any official documentation certifying the reasons for the request. An instructor can submit the
form directly to the Committee on Academic Standing in the Center for Student Advising via email or fax or
return it to the student to be included with the application
2. Students should expect an e-mail notification of the Committee on Academic Standing’s decision
five business days after the Committee has met to review the request for an Incomplete.
3. It is the student’s responsibility to learn the status of the submitted request and ensure that the application is
complete.
4. The Committee will set a deadline for work to be completed (in accordance with recommendations made
by the faculty) and/or will provide dates for deferred examinations. These deadlines are final.
Deferred Examinations/Late Submission of Projects or Papers
1. Students who are granted an INC for papers or projects should be prepared to hand-carry, email, or mail the
missing item to the Center for Student Advising when completed. Papers/projects which are mailed must be
postmarked by the date of the deadline.
2. Students who are granted an INC for missed examinations will receive information from the Center for
Student Advising concerning the scheduling of deferred examinations. These are typically held during the
first week of the semester following that in which the course was taken.
Grade Submission
Once students have completed the missing paper, project, or examination, the professor will review the work
submitted and provide an appropriate grade. If the work is not completed by the deadline, or by an agreed
upon extension, the Incomplete will be changed to the contingency grade provided on the Instructor Form.
All Incompletes will automatically convert to the contingency grade after one calendar year. If no
contingency grade is provided, the grade of F will be given.
Appeals
If a request for an Incomplete is not approved and there is new or updated information, students may submit an
appeal. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your Adviser before filing an appeal, so that you have a
more complete understanding of the decision. Columbia College students may appeal their decision to Dean
Kathryn Yatrakis (208 Hamilton); Columbia Engineering students may appeal their decision to Dean Morton
Friedman (510 Mudd). Appeal forms are available in Dean Yatrakis' or Dean Friedman’s offices.
Center for Student Advising
403 Lerner Hall, MC: 1201
(212) 854-6378
(212) 854-2562 (f)
3/6/2016
INTERNAL: Date ________________
Initials _________
Approved ____ Denied ____ Pending ___________________
COLUMBIA COLLEGE / COLUMBIA ENGINEERING
Petition to Request an Incomplete
Complete one form for each course. If necessary, attach additional pages to this form.
Date: __________________ School: ____________ Expected graduation date: _________________
Name: ______________________________________ CUID: ________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________________ Cell Phone: ____________________________
Adviser Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Name of Course: _____________________________
Semester/Year Course Taken: _____________
Department: _________________________________ Course Number: ________________________
Name of Instructor: ___________________________________________________________________
Instructor's E-mail: ____________________________ Instructor's Tel: _________________________
□ Please check here if you have a disability registered with the Office of Disability Services. You
must contact their office at 212-854-2388 to arrange proctoring for your deferred exam.
Please explain the reasons for your request. If the reason is medical, confirmation by University
Health Services or a medical professional must accompany this form; your request will not be
considered without supporting documentation. (Feel free to attach additional pages.)
Please list missing assignment(s) in the course listed above.
Please list other courses for which you are requesting an Incomplete.
3/6/2016
Petition to Request an Incomplete
Instructor Form
Name of Student: _______________________________________ Date: _______________________________
Course Name and Number: __________________________
Name of Instructor: ________________________
The student named above is petitioning for an Incomplete in your course. Please complete the information requested
below even if you do not support the student’s petition. Because there are often confidential circumstances
surrounding a student’s request, it is possible (though rare) that the Committee will approve a request against your
recommendation. If an Incomplete is granted, the student will be expected to complete the missing work before the end
of the deferred exam period. Please note: Students will be granted an INC only for incapacitating illness as certified by
Health Services at Columbia, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity which prevent the
completion of work specifically due at the end of the semester.
1)
Has the student been attending your course regularly?
2)
Has the student taken all exams and quizzes and/or written all papers and other assignments so far? If not,
what is missing?
3)
What outstanding work must the student complete? For written assignments, what due date would you
propose the student submit their final work?
4)
If the student needs to complete a final exam, please note the proctoring arrangement you would prefer:
 I would like the Registrar’s Office to proctor an exam on one of the established deferred exam dates
(typically given on the first Friday and Monday of the next semester). I will provide the exam when
requested.
 I will arrange proctoring for the exam
 This is a take home exam that will not require proctoring: due date __________________
5)
Do you support the student’s request for an Incomplete? (Please feel free to comment on back.)
_____ Yes
6)
_____ Yes, with reservations
_____ No
What would the grade be if the required work was not completed and was computed as a zero or an F?
Please give a contingency grade. If the required work is not completed by the date outlined, or by an
agreed upon extension, the Incomplete will be changed to this grade within one calendar year. If no
contingency grade is provided below, the grade of F will be given.
______ Contingency Grade
Please return this form to the student or fax it to the Center for Student Advising as soon as possible. The
Committee cannot consider the student’s petition until this form has been received.
Signature: ______________________________________ Date: __________________________________
Center for Student Advising
403 Lerner Hall, MC: 1201
(212) 854-6378
(212) 854-2562 (f)
3/6/2016