Fixing a Canvas gradebook full of zeros

When a course is imported with the late grading policy, Canvas will apply it to any assignment with a past due date. This may cause students to view a grade of zero before a class has started. Canvas will alert you during the import process to select if you want to import the Automatic Missing Policy. To avoid unnecessary zeros, choose not to import the policy.

Note: If the class has already begun, some students may have graded assignments. Those students and graded assignments will need to be identified before beginning. Sort each assignment column by Grade: high to low, and make a note of any grades. Students who have a grade listed will need to have their grade re-entered after the grade of zero is removed for the other students.

Updating scores for students who received grades in error

1. Go to your Canvas course.
2. Select Grades in the course navigation menu.
3. In the gradebook column header, select the Options icon (three vertical dots) next to the assignment title (See Fig. 1). 
4. Select Set Default Grade (See Fig 1).
   
   Figure 1: Assignment Options menu to select Set Default Grade.
    
5. In the Default grade window, leave the Grade Value field empty (See Fig 2).
6. Select the checkbox next to Overwrite already-entered grades (See Fig 2).
   Figure 2: Default grade options selection box.
    
7. Select Set Default Grade (See Fig. 2).
8. Once complete, a verification message will display the number of student grades updated.
9. Select OK (See Fig. 3).
   
   Figure 3: Verification of default grades message.

Canvas campus and vendor resources