Extensions and Incompletes

In the case of a serious illness, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstances, your instructor may automatically grant an extension of one to three weeks after the term. Email your request, the reason, and proposed due date to both your professor and your advisor before the last day of the semester. Typically, the length of the extension granted is equivalent to the amount of time lost due to the circumstances and takes into account the severity of the situation faced by the student. Your instructor will first verify completion of 50 percent of the required assignments for the semester (and a passing grade on completed work thus far). A temporary notation of “I” (incomplete) is assigned until a final grade can be determined.

• Late work penalties may apply on extensions if appropriate and is at instructor discretion.
• All course assignments not completed by the extended deadline will be given a failing grade.
• For a one- to three-week extension, no petition or Administrative Committee approval is needed. Students are expected to speak with their instructor directly.

Extensions as long as six weeks beyond the end of the semester may be possible with an approved academic petition. Students must submit requests through S.I.S. before the last day of the semester. Under no circumstances may a time frame longer than three weeks be granted except by academic petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. A successful petition will demonstrate an unforeseen circumstance and a plan to successfully complete within the extension time frame. In cases of extensions approved beyond three weeks, the student may be asked to drop or adjust course load for the upcoming term in order to protect their academic success. Graduates needing an extension will have their graduation moved out one term.

The Administrative Committee evaluates each petition in terms of extenuating circumstances or circumstances beyond the control of the student. Western Seminary considers extenuating circumstances to be unforeseen matters such as death in the family, serious accident or illness to student or immediate family member(s), call-ups to active military duty, and similar circumstances that could not have been prevented or anticipated by the student and were completely beyond the student's control. Examples of situations that will NOT be considered extenuating include:  being busy, employment demands, minor illnesses, or responsibilities from optional ministries or missions trips.

Students on Financial Aid please note:  Requesting an extension and receiving an incomplete may jeopardize your financial aid eligibility as well as your registration for the next semester. No financial aid will be distributed to students with outstanding Incomplete grades. Students may visit our Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) page or consult with Financial Aid for more information.