By Tucker Reilly, News Assignments Editor
St. Bonaventure University’s faculty senate has passed a new motion, altering the way that “I” or “Incomplete” grades are factored into students’ GPAs and credit completion. Introduced on April 16 by Lecturer and Chair of the Academic Standards Committee Michael Spong and Assistant Professor of Communications Dr. Carole McNall, the change will allow students issued an “I” grade for a class to complete it the following semester without receiving a grade equivalent to an “F” for the current term.
This resolution is an extension of a temporary shift passed in Spring 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last spring, we proposed pretty much the identical amendment and [faculty senate] opted to do it for the COVID-19 semester,” said McNall. “I walked away from that saying… ‘I’m going to be back, I want the change to be permanent.’”
While COVID-19 has offered several circumstances in which students may be unable to complete courses, the issue of “I” grades extends past the current situation.
“One year, one student who had shoulder surgery ended up having to do an oral presentation of her media law research paper, because we didn’t want to factor something equivalent to an ‘F’ into her GPA,” said McNall. “I reached out to several friends who teach at various colleges, including SUNY schools, who expressed that they were doing exactly what we were proposing in the resolution.”
SUNY schools, including Brockport, Plattsburgh, Geneseo, Morrsiville and Cortland, have policies allowing students to change their “I” grade to a letter grade at a later date. While the professor retains the right to issue the grade, students generally have a period spanning between six weeks and the end of the following semester before receiving an “F.” Additionally, many schools require students to have completed 75% or more of coursework prior to receiving an “I” in the course.
“You cannot just ask for an ‘I’ because you didn’t finish the work or complete the work on time,” said Spong. “It has to be given by the instructor or professor under circumstances that would cause you not to complete the course on time. You’re not going to go into the next semester with four or five ‘I’s.”
As is the case in every alteration to university policy, the potential for exploitation had to be considered. Spong said that while the temporary policy in place had not yielded any abuse, it was important to understand the nature of the “I” grade to this end.
“There was some caution regarding financial aid requirements – because there is a GPA and credit requirement for aid – and abuse. We mentioned that if the student doesn’t complete the work within the given time period, there is the penalty of an ‘F,’” said Spong.
“Dr. Zimmer had a concern that people might give out ‘I’s in large quantities,” said McNall. “If that became the case, deans and department heads would take notice, and they ultimately have oversight there. That’s not the kind of conversation I’d like to have with my dean.”
The motion passed unanimously, in a 15-0 vote from the faculty senate.
In notes provided by Spong from the meeting, several groups outside the faculty senate, including the Athletic Department and Student Government Association, voiced support for the change.
“There is no reason for the student, should they need the ‘I’, to be punished when trying to apply for an internship or for a job that requires either a transcript or a certain GPA,” said Spong. “[This change] is there to help students get through a difficult time, but it is not there to be abused.”
reillyt19@bonavneture.edu
