So I have a friend who took a class for credit only and should NOT have received credit. Instead of getting a S or a U for a grade, he got an IN after not attending class for half the semester.

He just changed majors and didn't drop these classes for insurance and status (full time student) purposes. These classes would NOT help him in his new major.

Its my understanding that an IN will change to an F automatically within a certain amount of time.

Can a professor give an IN to a student who took a class for credit only? What would be the motive behind this unless to screw the student over? What can be done about the situation?

Paging Wolfee....

5/9/2006 1:12:12 AM

why would you think that they could not give an IN?

5/9/2006 1:16:08 AM

I always thought that an IN was reserved for unusual situations, that meant that the student was actually unable to fulfill the requirements of the class due to extenuating circumstances; thus giving the student a second chance at a decent grade.

I wasn't aware that a professor would give this grade despite the lack of such a situation, thus just inevitably giving the student an F, sort of defeating the purpose of allowing a change to credit only in the first place.

5/9/2006 1:19:32 AM

yeah, I thought IN was for students to finish a project (research project for credit) or something. It will turn to an F after a couple semesters if he doesn't finish it and get a grade/pass I believe.

5/9/2006 1:47:15 AM

Well i would say that not finishing a class is a pretty good example of when an IN would be used.

5/9/2006 1:50:49 AM

^...but whats the difference in never going....and just going to the tests, putting your name on it, turning it in blank for an F. Just willingly not completing a course should not be grounds for receiving an IN. If that were the case, then everyone who was ever failing mid semester and gave up hope should also receive an IN...for not studying harder, for not trying to "complete the course"

5/9/2006 1:57:19 AM

Find out why the IN was given. I'm agreeing with other people ... if the person didn't take the final exam, the instructor may have an honest concern for that person's well-being and want to give them a second chance. Find out WHY the IN was given before making accusations one way or another. (See http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/grades_undergrad/REG02.50.3.php for a definition of IN).

Quote :

"He just changed majors and didn't drop these classes for insurance and status (full time student) purposes. These classes would NOT help him in his new major."

If you receive a U, it counts as zero credit hours (at least if I'm reading http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/courses_undergrad/REG02.20.15.php correctly). This person may face issues with the upcoming semester. Might want to consider a semester withdrawl. Talk to some advisors first.

[Edited on May 9, 2006 at 6:27 AM. Reason : .]

5/9/2006 6:26:16 AM

I was under the impression that you couldn't receive a grade for a class without attending the final. If he didn't take the final, he probably needs to just talk to the prof and explain why he didn't take it and ask for the U. As mentioned before, a U is 0 hours and can have financial aid consequences, so talking to an advisor would be a good idea.

5/9/2006 8:37:27 AM

ok thanks

5/9/2006 8:38:18 AM

An instructor can pretty much give an IN grade at his/her discretion, as well as set conditions for removing it. The motive is probably to AVOID screwing over the student who, apparently, didn't bother to talk to the instructor about his intentions and assumed that the instructor would somwhow magically figure them out.

The IN will, indeed, change to F at the end of the next semester unless the instructor submits a grade change form.

The student should talk directly with the instructor, who will probably be very happy to change the IN to a U.

5/9/2006 9:00:05 AM