Important end-of-semester reminders for undergraduate teaching faculty
As you complete your grading and prepare for a well-earned break, please take a moment to review the procedures and expectations below.
To all faculty teaching spring 2026 undergraduate courses:
Final exams conclude tomorrow, and we want to sincerely thank you for all you have done to make this semester successful. As you complete your grading and prepare for a well-earned break, please take a moment to review the procedures and expectations below.
Your compliance is required—and appreciated—as students are eager to receive feedback on their work. Timely grade submission is essential for degree certification and academic standing reviews. Please be sure to meet the deadlines below.
- Final grades are due in SIS by 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the latest. Meeting this deadline is a requirement, so please take careful note of this time.
- Incompletes, while occasionally appropriate, should be used in accordance with academic policies as set forth in the General Bulletin. An incomplete is only appropriate for a student who has completed the majority of the work in a course. Faculty can determine their own deadline for students to complete missing work for spring courses, as long as it is before Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.
As we conclude the 2025–2026 academic year, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your dedication and hard work. Each of you plays a vital role in advancing our institution and supporting our students, and I am deeply grateful for all that you do. As we celebrate our bicentennial, we can take pride in all we have accomplished together. Because of your contributions, our national and international reputation continues to grow.
As a reminder, Commencement Week begins next Wednesday, May 13, and undergraduate diploma ceremonies will take place on May 17. This is a meaningful moment for our students, and while it can be bittersweet to see them go, your presence matters deeply and would mean a great deal to them as they mark this milestone. We hope you will join us in celebrating the Class of 2026.
With appreciation,
Joy K. Ward
Provost and Executive Vice President