Claim: the number you see in your LMS (Canvas/Blackboard) is often not the number that ends up on your official record, and the rules that transform one into the other are messy by design. This piece is a pragmatic playbook to (1) compute what your final should be, (2) know where the official grade will appear and when, (3) spot the failure modes that produce mismatches, and (4) act—by policy, not vibes—when something is wrong. Where relevant, we show how RightGrades (an early-stage Bouncebeam service) helps you produce evidence-backed appeals without crossing into academic-judgment battles.
How final exam grades are actually calculated (and why your projection is often wrong)
Most U.S. courses use weighted categories (e.g., Exams 60%, Homework 20%, Participation 20%). In Canvas this is implemented with Assignment Groups that sum to 100%. The platform’s own guide explains how weighting works and how category averages are computed. (Canvas Community)
The formula (weighted categories):
Final course % = Σ(weight of category × average in that category).
Example: If everything except the final is 85% at 60% weight and the final exam is 40% of the course, to finish at 90% overall you need
(0.60×85) + (0.40×Final) = 90 ⇒ Final = 97.5%.
Why mid-semester projections mislead: by default, Canvas can show a “current” grade that ignores ungraded work (“Calculate based only on graded assignments”). Universities warn this yields an inflated view unless instructors enter zeros for missing work or students uncheck that box to view the total grade. (Penn State Service Management)

• UW-Madison documents that weighted schemes can make Canvas project an inaccurate final during the term and explains why totals fluctuate. (Wisconsin KnowledgeBase)

• Florida State, Chapman, Penn State, and others publish step-by-steps to see the real total or to prevent confusion by entering zeros. (Office of Digital Learning)

Bottom line: compute targets with the weighted formula, but treat any mid-semester LMS number as a scenario, not a transcript.
What counts as the official grade (LMS vs SIS)
LMS ≠ student record. Multiple institutions state explicitly that Canvas is not the official repository for grades; the official grade is posted in the Student Information System (SIS)/Registrar (Banner, PeopleSoft, etc.). Examples: Harvard Extension (“Grades posted in Canvas or other course websites are not considered official”), UNC Greensboro (“Banner is the sole repository of official course grades”), UC Denver and VSU/CWU checklists (“post grades to SIS; Canvas is not the official repository”). (Harvard Extension School)
How grades move: many universities upload/sync Canvas grades into SIS, then approve/post them there; only after posting do they hit the official record. Case Western (Canvas→SIS upload then SIS approval), UVA (posted nightly after approval), UW-Green Bay (Registrar posts twice daily) all document this pipeline. (Case Western Reserve University)
When do finals appear? Representative timelines:

• University of Iowa: Registrar processes finals three business days after finals week. (Office of the Registrar)

• University of Memphis: “Official” grades are typically available the Thursday after exam week (and their pages repeat this consistently). (University of Memphis)

Translation: it’s normal for Canvas to “freeze,” then differ from the SIS number; the SIS/transcript number wins.
Rules that quietly change your letter: curves, cutoffs, rounding
Curves (law schools illustrate the spread): NYU Law publishes binding 1L curve guidelines and discretionary upper-level curves (targets for grade bands; A+ caps). That’s policy, not math. (NYU Law)
Rounding is not universal. Some institutions round ≥ .50 up, others prohibit rounding or truncate decimals, and many leave it to the syllabus/program:

• Rounds (explicit): Goodwin University; South University; Los Angeles Pacific; ECU Nursing; TAMU Pharmacy. (Goodwin University)

• No rounding (explicit program): Purdue Global Law. (Purdue Global Catalog)

• Truncate GPA (illustrative): UT San Antonio. (UTSA Catalog)

Implication: the same 89.50% can be an A somewhere and remain a B+ elsewhere. Your catalog/syllabus controls.
LMS mechanics that cause mismatches at the end

• Final Grade Override (Canvas): instructors can override the auto-calculated final with a different final grade (letter or %) once this feature is enabled. (Canvas Community)

• Hidden vs posted grades: Canvas lets instructors hide or manually post grades; posting policies are forward-looking (don’t retroactively hide/post). Universities document the differences and common pitfalls. (Canvas Community)

• Ungraded items / missing work: if cells are blank, totals can be inaccurate for both students and instructors; best practice is to enter zeros or guide students to view the total (not “current”) grade. (Wisconsin KnowledgeBase)

• SIS import/approval: even after a Canvas total exists, the registrar’s posting step controls when it appears officially. See Case Western, KU, UVA, UW-Green Bay. (Case Western Reserve University)

Compute your target and sanity-check the final

1. Collect the rules: syllabus weights; any drop policies; rounding; curve/grade scheme. Canvas weighting guidance shows where to look. (Canvas Community)

2. Compute your scenario: use the weighted formula above.

3. Check the LMS view: ensure you’re seeing Total (uncheck “calculate based only on graded assignments”); if you’re an instructor, enter zeros for missing work. (Penn State Service Management)

4. Before you panic: check whether your instructor used Final Grade Override, whether grades are hidden/unposted, and whether your campus has posted to the student record yet. (Canvas Community)

Worked example — Final worth 40%

• Current (everything except final): 84%, weight 60%.

• Desired overall: 90%.
  Equation: 0.60×84 + 0.40×Final = 90 ⇒ Final = 99%.

Worked example — Drop + rounding rule

• Syllabus: Quizzes 20% (drop 1), Projects 40%, Final 40%; catalog rounds ≥ .50 up.

• After drop, your category averages: 88%, 91%, Final 86%.
  Overall = 0.20×88 + 0.40×91 + 0.40×86 = 88.4%.
  If your school rounds ≥ .50, this remains 88; to hit 89, you’d need 88.50. (Examples of explicit rounding policies linked above.) (South University Catalog)

Where and when to look for the official number

• Look in your Registrar/SIS (not Canvas/Blackboard). Harvard Extension, UNC Greensboro, UC Denver, and Rio Hondo spell this out in plain language. (Harvard Extension School)

• Expect lags: e.g., Iowa’s 3 business days after finals; Memphis’s Thursday after exam week; many campuses run nightly or twice-daily posting jobs. (Office of the Registrar)

If the final grade looks wrong: your rights and the appeal path
Your federal rights (FERPA): you can inspect records and seek amendment of information that is inaccurate or misleading; schools must consider the request and offer a hearing if denied. But FERPA does not let you challenge an instructor’s academic judgment (e.g., “my essay deserved an A”). That boundary is explicit in Department of Education guidance and university policies. (Protecting Student Privacy)
What schools consider valid grounds: universities commonly allow appeals for procedural error, inequitable application of stated rules, or clerical/calculation mistakes—not mere disagreement with professional judgment. UNC Charlotte’s policy is a clean example; Georgetown’s bulletin says the same (error or inequity are grounds; disagreement with judgment is not). (legal.uncc.edu)
Typical ladder (check your campus): Instructor → Department Chair/Program Director → School/College Committee/Dean → Registrar/Provost. Many institutions publish submission windows (sometimes just days). See Iowa/Memphis timing for how fast “official” happens; UW-Madison/UVA note the registrar gatekeeping step. (Office of the Registrar)
Tactical sequence that actually works:

1. Assemble evidence: syllabus (weights, rounding, curve), Canvas settings (weights, drops, missing-as-zero), your submissions/feedback, and SIS screenshots. Canvas docs explain where to check weighting and overrides; posting-policy pages explain hidden vs posted. (Canvas Community)

2. Verify the math: re-compute totals; look for ungraded blanks, mis-applied drop rules, or a Final Grade Override. Universities document how ungraded blanks distort totals. (Wisconsin KnowledgeBase)

3. Contact the instructor with a short, neutral note that ties evidence to the written policy (not a plea about effort).

4. Escalate per policy only if there’s a procedural/clerical issue or inequity—and meet the deadline in your catalog. (legal.uncc.edu)

RightGrades: what we do (and what we won’t)
Purpose: rebalance the student–institution dynamic by making the evidence trail effortless.

• Diagnostic audit: we check the syllabus rules against the Canvas setup (weights, drops, missing-as-zero, grade-posting status) and note whether a Final Grade Override likely explains the mismatch; we also map your school’s SIS posting timeline so you know whether you’re looking too early. (Canvas Community)

• Evidence packet: we produce a tight memo showing exact procedural or arithmetic mistakes (e.g., mis-weighted category, un-applied drop, hidden grades not yet posted), linked to your institution’s published guidance. (Canvas Community)

• Appeal drafting: we draft concise messages that follow your school’s appeal ladder and grounds (error/inequity/clerical), not academic judgment. See UNC Charlotte and Georgetown for the model we align to. (legal.uncc.edu)

• Hard limit: we do not challenge academic judgment; FERPA and school policies don’t allow that, and going down that path weakens your case. (Protecting Student Privacy)

Quick FAQ
Where is my “real” final grade?
In your Registrar/SIS (Banner/PeopleSoft/etc.), not in Canvas/Blackboard. Harvard Extension, UNC Greensboro, UC Denver, and Rio Hondo state this explicitly. (Harvard Extension School)
Canvas shows 89.9%. Can I demand a round-up?
Only if your catalog/syllabus says so. Many programs round ≥ .50 up; others do not round or even truncate. Examples above show all three approaches. (South University Catalog)
Can a professor change a posted grade?
Yes—through the registrar’s change-of-grade process after submission/posting (not merely by tweaking Canvas). Campuses document SIS-level grade change workflows. (Student Affairs)
Why did my Canvas total drop overnight?
Zeros for missing work were entered, grades were posted (revealing previously hidden scores), or the instructor used Final Grade Override. Each is documented behavior. (Wisconsin KnowledgeBase)
Editor’s stance (so you can pressure-test this advice)

• Best estimate of truth: students routinely lose leverage due to (a) LMS vs SIS mismatch, (b) discretionary rounding/curves, and (c) not aiming appeals at procedural error. The registrar/SIS references and appeal-policy pages above support this framing. Confidence: 90%. (Harvard Extension School)

• Common consensus, but wrong: “Canvas says X, so my grade is X.” Institutions repeatedly say no—wait for SIS posting. Confidence: 95%. (Harvard Extension School)

• Key failure modes: assuming rounding/curving help you; missing registrar deadlines; arguing merit instead of procedure. The linked policies/timelines make those failure modes explicit. Confidence: 85%. (Office of the Registrar)

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