Usually, most students are participating successfully in your course. However, you may have some students who aren't functioning, or may not even be responding to you. It is helpful if you know the policies and procedures related to withdrawal and incompletes. If you need further assistance with a student, contact our Director of Student Services at sdestudents@andrews.edu or (269) 471-3432.
This table summarizes the policy for withdrawing from self-paced courses. Deadlines for refunds are based on the number of calendar days from start date.
| Calendar Days From Start Date | Tuition | Distance Fee | Drop/Add Fee | Transcript Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-15 | Full refund | Full refund | No charge | No grade assigned |
| 16-27 | 70% refund | No refund | Charged | “W” grade assigned |
| 28-38 | 40% refund | No refund | Charged | “W” grade assigned |
| 39-150 Prior to final exam |
No refund | No refund | Charged | “W” grade assigned |
| 151+ | No refund | No refund | Cannot drop | “A-F” grade earned |
Students should email sderegister@andrews.edu to withdraw within 150 days of their start date. Include the specific course number and name, their student number and full name, and any instructions on returning a refund (if any).
Automatic notifications are sent to students regarding these calendar dates and should keep them informed of their options. If you have students who need further advising in this area, you can contact our Director of Student Services at sdestudents@andrews.edu to assist.
The Consortium no longer offers extensions to students. Instead, we are following the Andrews University Incomplete Policy, which states:
I-Incomplete. An Incomplete (I) indicates that the student’s work is incomplete because of illness or unavoidable circumstances and not because of negligence or inferior performance. Students will be charged an incomplete fee for each incomplete grade issued.
An I may be given when the instructor and the student agree to terms stated in an Incomplete Contract. The I is given to a student when the major portion of the work for the course has been completed. The contract states (1) the remaining work to be completed, (2) a plan with timelines for completion of the work, (3) the time limit, and (4) the grade the student will receive if the work is not completed by the agreed-upon time.
Ordinarily, an I shall be removed during the following semester. However, an I contracted in the spring semester may be extended to the autumn semester. Any request for an extension of time beyond the contracted time shall be made in writing before the end of the contracted date and approved by the dean of the college/school in which the course is offered. The number of I’s on a student’s record affects the student’s class and workload.
Undergraduate restrictions: Students with 8 credits of Incompletes may not register for more than 12 credits of new courses; for those with 12 or more credits of Incompletes the number of new credits is limited by the dean of the respective college/school. Incompletes must be removed before graduation.
Reminder to Students
This reminder goes to students regarding incompletes the day before their deadline:
Dear [FIRSTNAME],
Tomorrow is the end date for your course [COURSE NAME]. If you haven’t completed all work and the semester exam, you have three options to choose from:
1. Finish it all by tomorrow. Meet this deadline. Celebrate!
2. If major illness, family death, documented handicap, or other unforeseen disaster has impeded your completion, please discuss this with your teacher right away. An incomplete might be negotiated, if you have completed the majority of course work. A fee will be due, and a grade assigned by the contracted end date.
3. If extenuating circumstances are not the case, take inventory. It’s too late to withdraw, but if you feel that studying alone was not the cause of missing this milestone, then you may reregister when you’re ready to finish within 180 days. If you do this right away, the course materials will likely be similar, so you can consult the work you’ve done to speed up your progress!
All things this side of heaven do come to an end. I pray that this learning experience has enriched your life and prepared you to better serve others wherever God leads.
Glynis Bradfield, Director of Student Services
School of Distance Education, Andrews University
Email: stuservgriggs@andrews.edu
Phone: (269) 471-3432
What to Do
Incomplete Grade Reminders
For students taking Andrews University credit, you might receive an email with this subject line: INCOMPLETE/DEFERRED/MISSING COURSE GRADES REMINDER. The email says:
The attached spreadsheet is a report of undergraduate students seeking to graduate/march <<date>> who have incomplete/deferred/missing grades with a deadline of <<date>>. Please examine this report and make changes at the Academic Records office by the deadline.
If you receive an email like this, please forward the email to our Director of Student Services at sdestudents@andrews.edu.