I can’t speak for the professor or the situation. In hindsight, you should have just withdrew from the course, but maybe at the time, everyone believed you would be able to finish up the course either by the end of the semester or by the end of the next semester. And, it sounds like you misunderstood what taking an incomplete meant.
When I give incompletes, they are alway to benefit a student who is having some difficulty (health, family, etc.) but wants the chance to get everything in when they can without having to drop the class altogether and sign up for it another semester.
If you’re not passing a class because you’ve simply fallen behind, you’re not eligible for an Incomplete.
Request an Incomplete.
Contact your instructor to find out if requesting an Incomplete is appropriate in your circumstances.
The deadline for submitting a request to your instructor for an incomplete shall be no later than the first working day after final examination week.
Note: Your instructor may require the submission of an Incomplete Form. If so, please contact your department advisor for assistance.
If you can’t complete the form because of illness, absence, or other circumstances, contact your instructor or department advisor for help.
Make up (remove) the Incomplete.
You must complete your work by the date given by your instructor.
* This date can be no later than the last day of the next quarter’s finals, excluding Summer Session.
* Incompletes will lapse to a F, NP or U grade at the end of week 10 of the next quarter, excluding Summer Session.
4.If you don’t complete your work* by the date given by your instructor, the lapsed failing grade becomes permanent.
2. The instructor will assign the new grade to replace the Incomplete.
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It appears based upon what you have said (taking you at your word) that of the 4 part process you;
Where eligible
Did make the request to the professor and in spite of being ill had him/her sign off
This is your problem. You failed to make up your work by the 10 week mark of next semester.
This is the proverbial last nail when it says if you don’t complete the work your grade becomes permanent.
Your window to correct this was 10 weeks into the next semester. Taking the class with another professor is irrelevant. You were required to complete the original classes work (even if you were sick or the professor failed to return) to remedy the situation.
I am sympathetic on a human level but unfortunately the rules are fairly specific, reasonable and accessible (given we have found them so quickly). Your circumstances explicitly call for an F grade and your window to change that closed years ago.
Let it go and learn from it. Not worth your energy.
Let me clarify: is the professor on your side on this or not? If not, is it worth your time to speak to the professor and explain the predicament you are in? And then ask for his/her assistance in the appeal?
I do feel for you. It’s sad this happened, and it sounds like a procedural issue rather than a substantive one reflecting your ability. I do think you will need to explain why it has taken you so long to raise this issue formally. It will help give you more credibility.
Actually, I think it is worth effort to appeal this. The OP is clearly stating they are facing problems with grad schools. An F would hurt most anyone.
The OP seemingly has NOTHING to lose by pursuing an appeal, and removing an F as the best case to gain. The cost is likely minimal to non-existent to pursuing the appeal.
Is there a downside? Given that this seems like a technical issue, albeit one that is clearly spelled out at UCSD, why not give it a chance? Like I said, what is there to lose?
I agree, and I get the OP is frustrated, even though the school is just following their written policies, however I’d suggest the OP approach this matter without anger or being combative, definitely honey and not vinegar.
OK, it’s getting clearer why you took an incomplete rather than a WP. You probably needed to keep a certain number of credits for the semester to keep your financial aid. I know it doesn’t sound like it to you, but the department and the professor was doing you a favor by allowing you to take an incomplete.
My advice…
Take a deep breath. Write a calm and professional letter to the Dean. Don’t call anyone a liar. Tell the Dean that you had a medical crisis, that there was a misunderstanding and that you are asking for a retroactive Withdraw Pass for medical reasons. Make sure to include the fact that you took the incomplete before the deadline for withdrawing.
The instructor didn’t say anything. I was in his office. He knew I was retaking it. Then he signed it. I went on my merry way. Then when I graduated I say the F and had no idea what was going on.
The m bad thing is that this was in 2015. I had all the emails to back me up, but I hope the emails weren’t deleted and that it is documented with a dated signed the incomplete the third week.
I’m just going to go look for an academic lawyer. I don’t know what else to do. This isn’t fair in thr slightest. Get an F for a class you didn’t even take.
I totally agree with @Mjkacmom and @Catcherinthetoast: OP, with all due respect, you need to ratchet things down, both here and when you pursue this.
In just the span of an hour, you have received tremendous guidance from the CC family. Folks here have spelled out the hurdles you have and suggested ways to overcome them. The bottom line is that you are facing an uphill battle. However, is it insurmountable? You won’t know until you try.
As folks have suggested, you should dial it down when you approach the school about this, and effectively plead for mercy, but state your facts clearly and document them.
I am a parent (and many folks here are). If this had happened to my student, I most definitely would pursue it, but in a calm and well-documented fashion. If you go in with all guns blazing and call school administrators/faculty liars, it probably ain’t going to work. Like I said, the provisions seem clear, and you need to find a way around it. Stating the facts well, showing the predicament you’re in, and asking for them to “have a heart” and show mercy would be the way I would approach it if this were my kid.
You definitely have a tone, and in order to rectify this situation, you need need to be apologetic, let the powers that be know you misunderstood what you needed to do to complete the class, you were in a bad place, and graciously as for their help.
“Contact your instructor to find out if requesting an Incomplete is appropriate in your circumstances.”
Like I said a million times, I did. He approved it the third week. I was told by financial aid to get an incomplete due to my situation, so I did.
Financial aid reps are great for answering questions about how to keep grants, but they aren’t academic advisors. What did your major advisor say about taking an incomplete? Did you take other courses that semester?