L (Late Grade, Continuing Course) Policy

The designation of “L” (Late grade, continuing course) is appropriate for cases in which student work is expected to extend beyond a given semester/session. The designation of “L” is not to be confused with a designation of “I,” which is only appropriate for individual students unable to complete their course work because of unexpected illness or personal emergency. “L” designations are appropriate for

1. internships, practicums, field experience courses, workshops, and independent studies that, by design, extend beyond the normal end of the grading period,
2. others as approved by the department chairperson and the dean of the college in which the course is taught. If a specific course is always eligible for “L” designations, the dean may grant standing approval for “L” designations every time the course is offered.

Faculty members wanting to use the “L” option for eligible courses must notify the registrar two weeks before the end of classes so that the grades can be pre-entered. “L” designations that are not precoded may be given only with the permission of the department chairperson and the dean of the college in which the designation is awarded.

Instructors will convert “L” designations to letter grades at the end of the course. Unless an extension is obtained from the dean of the college in which the course was taught, an “L” designation unresolved at the end of one year will be converted to an F.

To monitor “L” designations, the registrar shall submit to each faculty member routine semester reports of all outstanding “L” designations awarded by that faculty member. The purpose of these reports is to help inform faculty members as they help students complete their course work.

The “L” designation is considered as having MET the prerequisite for subsequent course enrollments.