Apply a Grade for Missing Submissions

Owned by Christine Sandella
Nov 20, 2024
3 min read

The Missing Submission Policy in the Gradebook allows instructors to automatically apply grades to missing submissions. When the due date for an online submission passes without the assignment being submitted, the assignment is labeled as Missing. The Missing Submission Policy is configured for each course and applies only to assignments with the "Missing" status.

Key Features of the Missing Submission Policy

  • Automatic Grade Application: You can assign a grade for missing submissions as a percentage of the total points possible. For example, if the policy is set to 20% and an assignment is worth 10 points, missing submissions will receive 2 points (10 points × 20% = 2 points). To assign a grade of 0, set the percentage to 0%.

  • Course-Wide Impact: The policy applies to all assignments in the course, including past due assignments, unless the "Missing" status is manually removed for specific submissions.

  • Gradebook Integration: When an assignment is submitted after the due date, the "Missing" label is automatically replaced by the "Late" label, but grades and labels can be manually adjusted in the Grade Detail Tray.

Missing Submission Policy Considerations

  • Label Updates: If a missing assignment is later submitted, the new grade must be updated manually in the Gradebook.

  • Policy Timing: Set the policy when the course is created to ensure it applies uniformly. The policy does not retroactively affect grades applied before it was enabled.

  • Excluded Assignments: Assignments marked as "No Submission," "On Paper," or "External Tool" are not affected by the policy, except for New Quizzes. Missing labels can be manually added to these assignments in the Grade Detail Tray.

  • Complete/Incomplete Assignments: Missing submissions for Complete/Incomplete assignments are automatically awarded an Incomplete grade with a score of 0, regardless of the percentage set in the policy.

  • Closed Grading Periods and Concluded Enrollments: The policy does not apply to assignments in closed grading periods or concluded enrollments.

  • Unpublished Assignments: The policy does not affect unpublished assignments.

  • Disabling the Policy: Disabling the policy does not revert grades applied while the policy was active.

Steps to Apply the Missing Submission Policy

  1. In Course Navigation, click the Grades link. 

  2. Click the Settings menu (gear icon) in the Gradebook.

    Red box around the gear icon in Canvas Gradebook.

  3. Select the Late Policies tab in Gradebook Settings.

    Red box around the late policies tab on the Gradebook settings screen.

  4. Check the box for Automatically apply grade for missing submissions.

  5. Enter the desired percentage in the Grade percentage for missing submissions field.

  6. Click Apply Settings to activate the policy.

  7. Review the affected grades in the Gradebook. Missing grades will display the assigned percentage and the "Missing" status.

Adjusting Submission Status

To remove the Missing status from a submission:

  1. Open the Grade Detail Tray.

  2. Select a new status or manually enter a new grade in the Grade field.

  3. The Missing Submission Policy will no longer apply, and the "Missing" label will be removed.

     

Troubleshooting Tips

  1. Verify Submission Type: Ensure the assignment submission type is set to Online, as the Missing Submission Policy applies only to online submissions.

  2. Check Due Dates: Confirm that the assignment due date is in the past. If necessary, edit the due date or submission type to align with the policy.