End of Semester Checklist

When your course is created the end date is automatically set to match the date set by the Course Finder Schedule. This means that students will not be able to submit any assignments after this date! 

Additionally unless you change one setting, students will not be able view the course, course content, or their grades. If you want students to be able to access your course to see their final grades you need to edit this in settings: 

Click Settings in the navigation bar, and then under the course details tab:

Uncheck the box that says: "Restrict students from viewing the course after the end date."

At the end of the semester it is important that you check your gradebook and make sure that you have zeros entered in for missing assignments (where students didn't turn in / submit an assignment). If you don't enter in a zero for these missing assignments then students will have an inflated grade that does not accurately represent their grade in your course.

Important Note: The option for "Treat ungraded assignments as zero  (Links to an external site.)" option in the gradebook did not actually give the students a zero for missing work, and has been removed in the New Gradebook (which we are using) so you will not see that option. 

It only showed up on the Instructor's side, but did not actually change the grade on the student side. Make sure you enter in zeros for all missing work!

TIP: You can quickly update all those dashes quickly by using the assign default grade.

1. Open Grades from the course navigation
2. Open the drop down menu for the desired activity/assignment
3. Select the option to Set Default Grade
4. Type the default grade value you wish to assign (don’t check the overwrite already-entered grades)
5. Click Set Default Grade

If you have a lot of  dashes "-" in your gradebook, you might want to let students know you arefinalizing the gradebook and their grade will change to reflect any missing assignments (now recorded with a zero). 

If you are excusing the student from the assignment and don't want the assignment to count against them, enter "EX" for excused in the Gradebook (or Speedgrader) for the grade.

This will help keep your Gradebook clean and remind you (and the student) that they are not responsible for turning in that specific assignment.

More information: How do I excuse an assignment for a student in the Gradebook? (Links to an external site.)  

The easiest way to save and print your gradebook is using the Export feature. This will provide a CSV file that can can be opened in Excel, saved, and printed.

The easiest way to save and print Attendance is using the Attendance Report. This will provide a CSV file that can can be opened, saved, printed, and used in Excel.

More information: How do I run Roll Call Attendance reports in a course? 

A student(s) with an emergency, or an excused circumstance, can request an Incomplete Contract for course, or an extension of time to complete work in the course, then you will need to work with Instructional Technology Staff to extend your course for the student(s).

Send an email to defaculty_support@cuesta.edu (include a copy of the incomplete contract if appropriate) and the following information:

• Course information (name and CRN)
• Student information (email and Student ID)
• The date of the course extension (you and the student decide on the new "end" date)

If the extension is only for a day or two you do not need an incomplete contract, for a longer extension please complete the proper incomplete form (Links to an external site.). 

If you will be using canvas next semester, you can copy your course to your new course shell (no need to rebuild everything from scratch). After you copy it over you can make any necessary adjustments / changes. 

More information: How to Copy your Course