Using the Canvas Missing Submission Policy

The Missing Submission policy automatically applies a predefined score if the due date passes without a submission.

When a missing label is manually applied, the missing label is removed by a new submission or manual removal. Entering a score does not remove a manually-applied missing label.

Notes:

  • Removing the policy or changing the due date after it has applied will not remove the scores entered.
  • The Missing Submission policy is not automatically applied to No Submission, On Paper, or External Tool assignments with the exception of New Quizzes quizzes. However, you can add a Missing label using the Grade Detail tray of the Gradebook.
  • If a Missing Submission policy is applied in a course, missing submissions for Complete/Incomplete assignments will be awarded an Incomplete grade with a score of 0, regardless of the Missing submission grade value.

Missing Submission Policy Settings

Missing Submission policy settings are managed from the Gradebook settings.

Open Gradebook

Open Gradebook

In the Course Navigation menu, click the Grades link.

Open Gradebook Settings

Open Gradebook Settings

In the Gradebook, click the Settings icon.

Enable Missing Submission Policy

Enable Missing Submission Policy

To enable the Missing Submission policy and automatically apply a grade to missing submissions, click the Automatically apply grade for missing submissions checkbox.

If scores are being applied automatically, but they appear to be incorrect, review the Grade Percentage for missing submissions field. The percentage entered in this field represents the total grade that students will receive when they have a missing submission.

If you want your students to receive a 0 when they miss a submission, enter 0 (zero) in the percentage field.

Review Assignment Due Dates and Submission Type

If your Missing Submission policy is not correctly applying to an assignment, your submission type or due dates may be incorrect. The Missing Submission policy only applies to assignments using the Online submission type and that have a due date in the past.

Open Assignments

Open Assignments

Open Assignment

Open Assignment

Click the title of the assignment that isn't displaying the Missing Submission policy correctly.

Confirm Assignment Due Dates

Confirm Assignment Due Dates

Confirm that the due date is correct. If not, you can edit the due date for the assignment.

Confirm Submission Type

Confirm Submission Type

Confirm that the Online submission type is selected for the assignment. This is the only submission type that works with the automatic Missing Submission policy. If the assignment submission type is not set to Online, you can edit the submission type. You must manually apply the Missing label for missing assignments with other submission types.