The Gradebook Settings panel allows instructors to configure Late Policies (including missing submissions), Grade Posting Policies, and several View Options to display your Gradebook exactly how you want.
Access the Gradebook Settings
Click on the ⚙️ Settings (gear/cog wheel) icon in the top right hand corner of the Gradebook to view the Gradebook Settings slide-out menu.
Late Policies
If desired, under Late Policies, check the box next to Automatically apply grade for missing submissions. Enter a percentage grade that all missing submissions should receive. For example, entering in a 0 will mean that all students who have not submitted the assignment will receive a 0 grade. If students turn in their assignment after the deadline, you can still enter in a grade for it.
If desired, you can also check the box next to Automatically apply deduction to late submissions. Enter in the percentage of the grade that should be deducted at each interval (Day or Hour).
Click the Apply Settings button when you are finished.
Grade Posting Policy
Grade Posting Policy for the Course
Under the Grade Posting Policy tab, you will likely see Automatically Post Grades selected. The default setting in Canvas is for assignment grades and feedback to automatically post, or be released, to each student once you enter them, meaning some students will receive their grade and feedback before others.
If you want to keep grades for an assignment hidden from students until you choose to release them, select Manually Post Grades. Click the Apply Settings button if you make a change to your grade posting policy. When Manually Post Grades is applied, all assignments will have MANUAL next to their names in the instructor’s view of the Gradebook.
Grading Posting Policy for an Assignment
You can also set a Grade Posting Policy for individual assignments. From the Grades tab in the course navigation, hover over an assignment name and click on the three vertical dots that appear. Click on Grade Posting Policy in the dropdown menu.
Select a grade posting policy, and click Save to save your changes.
Tips for Gradebook Settings
It is best to set any Gradebook Settings (Late Policies, Grade Posting Policy) at the beginning of the semester. Changing these settings during the semester may cause Gradebook inconsistencies. Make sure that you communicate the Gradebook Settings to the entire teaching team.
View Options
You can configure additional options via the View Options tab.
- The Arrange By drop-down list allows you to choose how you want to arrange the columns in your Gradebook (Assignment Name, Due Date, Points, or by Module).
- The Show section allows you to turn on/off elements such as a Notes column, Unpublished Assignments, Split Student Names, and more.
- The Status Color section allows you to select alternative colors for labels such as Late, Missing, Resubmitted, and more.
Caution!
Changes you make to the Status Color section affect your entire Canvas user account, not just a specific course. Example: If you change the color of the “Late” label from the default light blue to a dark purple in one Canvas course, that dark purple will be used in all other Canvas courses you are teaching, too.
Additional Resources
- How do I apply a Missing Submission policy in the Gradebook?
- How do I apply a Late Submission policy in the Gradebook?
- How do I use posting policies in a course?
- How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the Gradebook?
- How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the Gradebook?
- How do I use the Notes column in the Gradebook?
- How do I view the Unpublished Assignments column in the Gradebook?
- How do I view the Split Student Names column in the Gradebook?
- How do I change the color for a grading status in the Gradebook?