The Set as External Grade choice in the drop-down menu for a grade column is a function designed to allow Blackboard final grades to be integrated with a university’s grade reporting system. However, that integration requires a university to also have in place the Blackboard Report Card Module. Loyola does not have the Report Card Module so the Set as External Grade choice is of no use to instructors at this time.

The best way to deal with the Set as External Grade choice is to leave it alone. By default the Total Column in the Grade Center has been set as the External Grade. Only one column in the Grade Center can be designated as the External Grade. The column designated as such has a green check mark  icon to the left of the title.

If you choose Set as External Grade for a column you will notice that the Show/Hide to Users choice in the drop-down menu for that item disappears.

If you have set a column other than the Total Column as the External Grade we recommend that you reset the Total Column to the External Grade.

To reset the Total Column to the External Grade do the following:

1.  Go to your Total Column and click on the chevron icon to the right of the title.
   
   
   
   
2. Choose Set as External Grade.
   
   
   
   
3. You should now see the green check mark icon appear to the left of the Total Column title.
   
   

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