Set Due Dates and Availability for an Assignment

Assignments

• Visible with access restricted means students:
  • Can see the name, dates, other restrictions
  • Cannot see the assignment instructions or attachments
  • Cannot click on the assignment submit work
• (Default Setting)Visible with submission restricted means students:
  • Can see the names, dates, other restrictions
  • Can see the assignment instructions and attachments
  • Cannot submit work
• Hidden means students:
  • Cannot see assignment folders that are hidden before or after start/end dates

Following the steps below will set your preferred default setting for all future assignment folders you create.

1. On the nav bar, click Course Admin.
   
2. Click Availability Date Defaults.
   
3. Under Assignments, set your preferred Before Start Date settings for Assignments in your course. Options include:
   • Visible with access restricted: The assignment folder will be visible to students before the Start date, but they cannot click/open it and cannot see instructions.
   • (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted: The assignment folder will be visible to students before the Start Date and they can access it and read assignment instructions, but cannot submit their assignment. This effectively makes a discussion read-only.
   • Hidden before start: The assignment folder will be hidden from students until the Start date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden until the Start date. Notifications will also not be sent until the Start date.
     
4. Under Assignments, set your preferred After End Date settings for Assignments in your course. Options include:
   • Visible with access restricted after end: The assignment folder will be visible to students after the End date, but they cannot click/open it.
   • (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted after end: The assignment folder will be visible to students after the End date and they can access it but cannot submit their assignment. This effectively makes the assignment folder read-only.
   • Hidden after end: The assignment folder will be hidden from students after then End date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden after the End date. Notifications will also not be sent after the End date.
     
5. Click Save.

If you haven’t already, follow the steps to Create an Individual or Group Assignment.

1. On the nav bar, click the Activities menu, then select Assignments.
   
2. On the Assignments page, from the context menu of the assignment you want to set dates for, click Edit Assignment.
   
3. The due date field is located under the Assignment title. Set Due Date by clicking anywhere in the due date field.
   
   Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the assignment will be due. By default the time will be 11:59 PM.
   
   The due date specifies a time when the assignment is expected to be completed. An assignment is flagged as late if it is submitted after the due date. Due dates are automatically added to the course calendar. Note: If a due date is set, the student is notified two days prior to this date on the Pulse app and will appear on the TCU Online calendar for students enrolled in the course and on the general course calendar.
4. Optional Visibility: By default, assignments are visible to students upon creation. If you wish to hide the assignment from students completely, click the visibility toggle on the bottom of the assignment creation page. If the eyeball icon displayed, the students can see the assignment. If the eyeball icon has a line through it, the assignment is hidden from students.  Note: Follow the steps in the Set Availability and Conditions section below to set start/end dates for the assignment if you wish to control student access by date
   • Visible:
     
   • Hidden:
     
5. To set start and end dates, select the title on the Availability and Conditions panel to expand these options and set your preferences.
   
6. In the Availability section, do any of the following:
   • Start Date: The start date determines when an assignment becomes available to students. If a Start Date is not selected, then the students will be able to access and interact with the assignment without date restrictions.
     • Set the Date & Time for the Start Date by clicking anywhere in the Start Date field. Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the assignment becomes available. By default, the time will be set as 12:01 AM. Click the Before Start link, below the date and time field, to set the availability preferences for the Start Date.
       
       • Set the Availability Start Date Properties – Choose from one of the following:
         • Visible with access restricted: The topic/forum will be visible to students before the Start date, but they cannot click/open it.
         • (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted : The topic/forum will be visible to students before the Start date and they can access it but cannot post new threads or replies. This effectively makes a discussion read-only.
         • Hidden:  The topic/forum will be hidden from students until the Start date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden until the Start date. Notifications will also not be sent until the Start date.
       • Recommended: Check the box for Add availability dates to Calendar.
       • Click Done.
         
   • End Date: The end date determines when an assignment becomes unavailable to students. Note: The End Date affects the TurnItIn settings when visiting the TurnItIn tab (We recommend setting the “End Date” and “Due Date“).  If an assignment has no due date but has an end date, students will be notified two days prior to the end date via the Pulse app, and will appear on the TCU Online calendar for students enrolled in the course and on the general course calendar.
     • Set the Date & Time for the End Date by clicking anywhere in the End Date field. Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the assignment becomes unavailable. By default, the time will be set as 12:01 AM.
       
       • By default, the availability property Visible with submission restricted before start is selected. If you wish to select another availability property, click the link to make a new selection in the pop-up window.
         
         The availability property options are:
         • Visible with access restricted: The topic/forum will be visible to students after the End date, but they cannot click/open it.
         • (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted : The topic/forum will be visible to students after the End date and they can access it but cannot post new threads or replies. This effectively makes a discussion read-only.
         • Hidden:  The topic/forum will be hidden from students after the End date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden until the Start date. Notifications will also not be sent until the Start date.
       • Recommended: Check the box for Add availability dates to Calendar.
       • Click Done.
         
7. Click Save and Close.

1. On the nav bar, click the Content link.
   
2. Select the module in which the assignment exists as a content topic.
3. Click the context menu next to the discussion and select Edit Properties in Place.
   
4. Click on Add dates and restrictions.
   
5. Set a Start Date: The start date determines when an assignment becomes available to students. If a Start Date is not selected, then the students will be able to access and interact with the assignment without date restrictions.
   1. Click on Add start date…
      
   2. Set the Date & Time for the Start Date by clicking anywhere in the Start Date field. Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the assignment becomes available. By default, the date and time will match today’s date and time.
      
   3. Set the Availability Start Date Properties. By default, the availability property Visible with submission restricted before start is selected. If you wish to select another availability property, click the link to make a new selection in the pop-up window. The availability property options are:
      1. Visible with access restricted: The topic/forum will be visible to students before the Start date, but they cannot click/open it.
      2. (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted : The topic/forum will be visible to students before the Start date and they can access it but cannot post new threads or replies. This effectively makes a discussion read-only.
      3. Hidden:  The topic/forum will be hidden from students until the Start date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden until the Start date. Notifications will also not be sent until the Start date.
   4. Recommended: Check the box for Add availability dates to Calendar.
   5. Click Done.
      
6. Optional: To remove a date, click the “X” next to the editable field.
7. Set a Due Date: Set the Date & Time for the Due Date by clicking anywhere in the Due Date field. Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the discussion is due. By default, the date and time will match today’s date and time.
   
   The due date specifies a time when the assignment is expected to be completed. An assignment is flagged as late if it is submitted after the due date. Due dates are automatically added to the course calendar. Note: If a due date is set, the student is notified two days prior to this date on the Pulse app and will appear on the TCU Online calendar for students enrolled in the course and on the general course calendar.
8. Optional: To remove a date, click the “X” next to the editable field.
9. Set an End Date: The end date determines when an assignment becomes unavailable to students. Note: The End Date affects the TurnItIn settings when visiting the TurnItIn tab (We recommend setting the “End Date” and “Due Date“).  If an assignment has no due date but has an end date, students will be notified two days prior to the end date via the Pulse app, and will appear on the TCU Online calendar for students enrolled in the course and on the general course calendar.
   1. Set the Date & Time for the End Date by clicking anywhere in the End Date field. Then select a date from the calendar, and enter the time the assignment becomes unavailable.
      
   2. By default, the availability property Visible with submission restricted after end is selected. If you wish to select another availability property, click the link to make a new selection in the pop-up window.
      
      The availability property options are:
      1. Visible with access restricted: The topic/forum will be visible to students after the End date, but they cannot click/open it.
      2. (DEFAULT) Visible with submission restricted: The topic/forum will be visible to students after the End date and they can access it but cannot post new threads or replies. This effectively makes a discussion read-only.
      3. Hidden:  The topic/forum will be hidden from students after the End date. Calendar events for Availability Starts and Availability Ends will be hidden after the End date.
   3. Recommended: Check the box for Add availability dates to Calendar.
   4. Click Done.
      
10. Optional: To remove a date, click the “X” next to the editable field.
11. Click Update to save the dates.
12. The dates set will display under the Discussion topic within the Content module.