In the college environment, exception, exemption, and accommodation all refer to different ways of adjusting course requirements for students. Here’s how they differ:
Exception
An exception is a temporary change to the conditions of an assessment or course activity for an individual student. It’s often granted due to specific situations, like technical difficulties or emergencies. Examples include:
- Extending a due date
- Allowing extra time for a test
- Providing additional attempts for an assignment
The student is still required to complete the task but under adjusted conditions.
Exemption
An exemption removes the student’s requirement to complete a specific assessment or course activity. Exempted assignments are excluded from their grade calculation entirely. Examples include:
- Excusing a student from taking a final exam
- Not requiring a student to complete a project or assignment due to special circumstances
The student does not need to make any submission or do any work for the exempted item.
Accommodation
An accommodation is a formal adjustment provided to students with documented disabilities or other needs that affect their ability to participate in course activities. These adjustments are intended to level the playing field. Accommodations are typically applied across all assessments and activities for a student. Examples include:
- Extended time for exams
- Breaks during long assessments
- Alternate formats for course materials
Accommodations ensure that students with disabilities or other specific needs are not at a disadvantage compared to their peers.
Exceptions
Exceptions in Blackboard Ultra allow instructors to adjust settings for students facing challenges that prevent them from completing assessments, such as submitting coursework or taking tests on time. These adjustments apply only to the selected student and include options like extending due dates, granting additional attempts, or providing extended access, even if the assessment is hidden from others.
Exceptions ensure flexibility and fairness while maintaining the integrity of course requirements.
Add Exceptions
Exceptions can be added based on the assessment or student.
From the Assessment Submissions page, open the menu next to the student’s name and select Add or edit exceptions to view the Exceptions Options panel.
From the Student Submissions page, open the menu next to the assessment’s name and select Add or edit exceptions to view the Exceptions Options panel.
Exceptions Options Panel
To accurately manage exceptions, the Exceptions panel provides key details, including the course, assessment, and student’s name.
Steps to Update Exceptions:
- Review the relevant information in the Exceptions panel.
- Update the necessary settings:
- Set a new due date and time to extend the deadline.
- Adjust visibility using the Show on and Hide after dates.
- Allow additional attempts, if required.
- Inform students of the updated access period or additional attempts granted.
- Save changes to apply the exception immediately.
Each exception is applied individually to the selected student and assessment.
Exception considerations:
Add an exception after a grade is posted
- You can offer a student an exception for an assessment you’ve already graded and posted. For example, if you want a student to redo an automatically graded test that has no more attempts, you can add an additional attempt.
You’ll need to inform the student of the additional attempt as the system doesn’t send a notification.
Exceptions and automatic zeros
- If you grant a due date exception and there is already an automatic zero, the automatic zero will be removed. It will only appear if the student doesn’t make a submission by the new, extended due date.
Exceptions vs. accommodations
- Exceptions are different from accommodations you set in the course roster or student drill-down. An accommodation applies to all due dates or time limits in your course for an individual student. Exceptions are only allowed for the Show on and Hide afterdates and additional attempts.
Exception and accommodation icons
- After you allow an exception for a student’s assessment, you’ll see a gray clock icon next to the student’s name. The accommodation icon is a purple flag.
Exemption
Exemptions allow you to excuse a student from an assessment or activity due to life circumstances beyond their control. Exempted items are excluded from the student’s overall grade calculation, ensuring they are not disadvantaged compared to their peers.
Add an Exemption
You can exempt a student from an assessment in three ways:
- From the Submissions page:
- Open the menu next to the student’s name and select Add or edit exemptions to access the Exemptions panel.
- From the student drill-down view:
- Open the menu for the relevant assessment and choose Add or edit exemptions.
- From the gradebook grid view:
- Select the student’s assessment cell, open the menu, and choose Add or edit exemptions.
What Happens When You Exempt an Item?
- The item is not included in the student’s overall grade calculation.
- It is not marked late if the student does not submit it.
- No automatic zero is assigned.
- Students can see exemptions in the assessment and gradebook.
Other Considerations
- Exemptions adjust the maximum possible points for that student, so their grade calculation differs from other students.
- Students may still submit exempted items. You can grade and provide feedback, but the submission will not count toward their overall grade unless you remove the exemption.
Exemptions ensure flexibility for students while maintaining equity in grading.