Despite this compressed timeline for final grades in online education, instructors should allocate sufficient time to provide quality substantive feedback on the final assignments in the course. Instructors should coordinate with their Faculty Mentor and the Registrar to determine procedures for granting extensions to students, requesting grading extensions for online faculty, or posting a grade of Incomplete. To qualify for an Incomplete, students must have completed at least 70% of the coursework at the time of the request and be able to document justification for requesting the Incomplete grade.

After posting final grades, the instructor should post a concluding announcement in the LMS on the course landing page. Students will retain access to the course for a period after the end date, and this announcement signals that their work has been graded, their final grades have been posted, and that the instructor has concluded instructional activities apart from any special arrangements with students regarding extensions or Incomplete grades.

The concluding announcement is not simply an administrative close to the course; it enhances the student experience at the school. One of the most rewarding aspects of higher education is the opportunity to have some impact on a student. Students often take a moment to thank an instructor after a course or on an end-of-course survey. Likewise, instructors should use the concluding announcement to express appreciation for the students and gratitude for their efforts in the class.

In summary, the concluding announcement should express farewell to the students while notifying them that grades are finalized.

After final grades are posted, the student end-of-course surveys will be available to the instructor. Instructors can access the results within the LMS.

The surveys will help instructors assess the strengths and weaknesses of the course. Survey responses related to the course design, assignments, learning materials, and other aspects of the course are most relevant to the faculty member serving as the SME. Nevertheless, the instructor’s perceptions of those responses will provide valuable context when online faculty collaborate about adjustments to the course for future terms.

Survey responses relating to the instructor's performance will facilitate instructional improvement and reinforce existing strengths. Faculty Mentors will consider these surveys when conducting performance evaluations of online faculty.

Whenever a final “Incomplete” grade is assigned, the instructor must work with their Faculty Mentor, the Registrar, and the student to determine the deadline for the student’s outstanding assignments. The instructor must communicate with the student and monitor assignment submissions in the course LMS. The instructor must post a final grade for the student on the date arranged with the Registrar.

See the document, KYSU Online Standards of Instruction, for more information.

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Commented [JM88]: Coordinate tracking between RO and Online Ed office. Faculty Mentors drive the follow up process with Faculty.