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Setting Up Canvas Gradebook Policies (Late & Posting)
Overview
Canvas allows instructors to automate grading policies for late or missing assignments and control when grades are visible to students. Setting these policies early in the term helps create clear expectations and saves time during grading.
This guide will walk you through configuring Late Policies and Grade Posting Policies in the Canvas Gradebook.
Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes
Instructions
- Open the Gradebook
- Log in to Learn@Capitol (Canvas)
- Navigate to your course
- Click Grades in the course navigation menu
- Open Gradebook Settings
- In the Gradebook, click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Gradebook Settings
- In the Gradebook, click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Gradebook Settings
- Set Late Policies
- Under the Late Policies tab:
- Automatically apply grade for missing submissions
- Enable this to assign a grade of 0 (or another default score) for missing work
- Canvas considers an assignment “missing” if no submission is received by the due date
- Automatically deduct points for late submissions
- Enable and configure a deduction rule (e.g., 10% per day late)
- Set the lowest possible grade to prevent scores from going below a certain threshold
- Automatically apply grade for missing submissions
- These deductions are calculated based on the due date and submission time and only apply to assignments with a set due date.
- Under the Late Policies tab:
- Set Grade Posting Policies
- Under the Grade Posting Policy tab:
- Automatically Post Grades
- Grades are immediately visible to students once entered
- Grades are immediately visible to students once entered
- Manually Post Grades
- Grades are hidden until you choose to release them
- Recommended if you want to review or post all grades at once
- Automatically Post Grades
- To change settings for specific assignments:
- In the Gradebook, click the three-dot menu next to the assignment title
- Select Grade Posting Policy
- Choose Automatic or Manual and click Save
- Under the Grade Posting Policy tab:
- Save Settings
- Once you’ve configured your policies:
- Click Update to apply the changes
- You can adjust these settings at any time throughout the term.
- Best Practices
- Set up your Late and Posting policies before grading begins
- Use Manual posting when grading discussions, essays, or peer reviews
- Clearly communicate your late submission policy in the eSyllabus and course homepage
Troubleshooting
Issue | Solution |
Grades are not visible to students | Check that the assignment is published and the Grade Posting Policy is not set to Manual. |
Late policy not applying | Make sure the assignment has a due date set and is not marked as “Excused” |
Want to override a grade deduction | You can manually override grades in the Gradebook even if policies are enabled |
Still Need Help?
If you’re unsure which policy is best for your course or need help configuring the settings, contact the Online Learning team at ask@captechu.edu.