GradeSync FAQ

GradeSync is a tool that allows instructors to submit grades from a Grade Center column to STAR, without having to enter grades manually for each student. This tool decreases the time required for entering Midterm and Final grades. Instructors who use this tool will no longer have to submit grades through STAR.

• Instructors can submit grades through GradeSync only for students who are registered for the course in STAR.

• Only the Instructor of the course can submit grades through GradeSync. STAR permits only one instructor per course, so if a course has multiple instructors, only the one set up in STAR can submit the grades.

• It is recommended that if the Midterm Grades or Final Grades need to be changed after submitting through GradeSync, instructors update the grades in the Grade Center before resubmitting. (This can be done only until the grading deadline.)

• Instructors will not be able to submit grades through GradeSync after a student makes up up an incomplete. The instructor will need to update the grade directly into STAR.

View the FAQs below and the GradeSync Instructional Video for more information.

How do I submit grades using GradeSync?

1. Within the eCampus course menu, expand the Control Panel, expand Course Tools, and click GradeSync.

2. You may see a message that GradeSync is being launched.

3. Click the tab for either Midterm Grades or Final Grades. Subsequent steps here will assume Final Grades was chosen.

4. The grades from the External Grade column in the Grade Center will populate the Final Grade column.

5. Click within the cells of any instructors, auditors, and students getting an Incomplete, and delete the grade. (For students, enter the Incomplete directly into STAR.)

6. If a student is getting an F for non-attendance, enter the student’s last day of attendance in the Last Day of Attendance column.

7. Click the Submit button.

8. A message is displayed with the number of students whose grades were submitted. A checkmark is displayed in the Submitted column for students whose grades were submitted.

9. Log in to STAR to verify that the grades were submitted.

10.  If you need to change the Midterm or Final Grade after submitting through GradeSync, update the grades in the Grade Center first and then submit again through GradeSync until the grading deadline. After that date, submit the grade directly in STAR.

Follow the instructions in the GradeSync Instructor Guide for detailed instructions.

What do I need to do to prepare my Grade Center for using GradeSync?

1. Log in to eCampus and navigate to the correct course.

2. In the Control Panel, click Grade Center then Full Grade Center.

3. Within the Grade Center, hover over Create Calculated Column, then click Total Column or Weighted Column. (Only select Weighted Column if graded items in the course need to be weighted by a certain percentage. You can find more on Weighted Columns on the Blackboard Help site.)

4. Enter a Column Name. (This could be “Midterm Grade” or “Final Grade.”)

5. Set the Primary Display to either “Score” or “Letter.” The other options will not work.

6. Set the Secondary Display to “None.”

7. Choose the columns or categories you wish to include in the new Total column by clicking their names.
   Note: When selecting columns, do not include any Total columns. For example, do not include the Midterm column when calculating the Final Grade.

8. Click the arrow icon to move the columns over to Selected Columns.

9. Select No for Calculate as Running Total.

10. Scroll down to the Options area and select No so that you do not include this column in the Grade Center calculations.

11. Click Submit.

12. In the Grade Center, set this new column as the External Grade column by hovering within the new column, clicking the chevron, and choosing Set as External Grade. (After you have submitted the grades through GradeSync, return to the Grade Center to set the Total column as the External Grade.)
    Note: If you use a grading scale other than the default 10 point letter grade scale, follow the steps here to edit the grade schema in the course.

View the GradeSync Instructor Guide for detailed instructions. 

How do I upload grades to my course Grade Center? 

Follow the instructions in the Working Offline with the Grade Center video to upload grades using an Excel spreadsheet. Instructors should create columns in the Grade Center prior to downloading their Grade Center in Excel format.

Does GradeSync allow + or - marks on letter grades?

Yes, GradeSync automatically adds the + or = marks specified in the Course Grading Schema. View the Grading Schemas Guide to learn more. 

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Do I need to submit a Grade Modification form for students making up an incomplete grade in the course?

Yes, Instructors must update grades for students making up incompletes using the Grade Modification process in STAR.

I don't see the Midterm Grades or Final Grades tab.

The Office of the University Registrar hasn't opened the grade forms or the grades have already been rolled to academic history in STAR.

How do I verify that grades were submitted successfully?

A green bar with a message noting the number of students whose grades were successfully submitted will display at the top of the GradeSync screen. It's also best practice to check STAR after submitting grades in GradeSync.

Why am I getting an error in GradeSync?

An error is usually the result of one of these common situations: 

• The last Date of Attendance (LDA) is greater than the course end date or the current date. 

• The grades submitted don't match the grading mode that the student is registered for in STAR. For example, if a student registered for a course using the Pass/Fail grade mode and the instructor enters a letter grade other than P or F. 

What column in the Grade Center does GradeSync use?

GradeSync uses the External Grade column. 

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When do I use the Last Date of Attendance (LDA) column? 

An LDA must be submitted when you submit a grade of "F" due to non-attendance. 

Why am I receiving the error message "User or course not found for student ID?" 

This happens when a student who is not enrolled in STAR has a grade on the GradeSync form. You must clear the student’s grade cell on the form and resubmit. Some examples are the Instructor_PreviewUser and any student who is making up an incomplete, but not enrolled in STAR.

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