T-Reqs: Trinity Requirements, Policies & Procedures

Trinity College

'X' Grades (Absence from a Final Examination)

Policy

If you fail to take the final examination in a course, the instructor is generally expected to record a grade of "X," which means "absence from a final exam." However, if you have a failing grade in the class going into the final exam, the instructor may submit an F instead of an X.

Within 48 hours of the recording of an X grade, you must present a compelling explanation for your absence from the final exam to your academic dean. If you do not do so, or if your absence is not authorized by the dean, the X grade will automatically convert to an F. You can expect your dean to consult with your instructor and to not authorize your absence from a final exam if you have a history of excessive absences in the course or have failed to complete course work in a timely fashion.

An X grade will be authorized if there is an extraordinary reason for the absence, generally a reason beyond your control. This might include a sudden illness requiring a visit to an emergency room or physician, or a death in the family. End of semester travel plans are not acceptable grounds for missing a final exam.

Note: The short-term illness notification procedure can not be used for final exams.

Procedure

You must notify your dean or his/her staff before you miss a final exam if at all possible, or within 48 hours after the exam was missed. If this time period covers a weekend, you should call and leave a voice mail message for your dean or send an e-mail explaining why you missed the final exam.  You should then personally call the dean's office on the next workday to be sure your message was received and to arrange for an appointment if appropriate. Be prepared to provide documentation of illness, a death in the family, or other emergency.

Your dean will review the circumstances of your absence from the final exam to determine whether the X grade can be authorized. If your absence from the final exam is not excused, the X grade will convert to an F after 48 hours.  If the absence is authorized, your instructor will be notified and you can make arrangements with him/her to make up the exam. You generally have until the end of the fifth week of the next semester at the latest to clear the X by completing the final exam. However, a shorter period applies when semester continuation requirements are involved or if required by the instructor. The X grade will remain in place until a final grade is issued. At that time, the X will appear in parentheses beside the letter grade (e.g., C+ (X)).  Failure to complete the final exam by the deadline will result in the assignment of a final course grade of F.