FAQs
Who receives Progress Report requests?
Progress Report requests are automatically sent to everyone listed in SIS as an instructional role for the course, including:
- Instructors
- Co-instructors
- TAs
- UTAs
- Some grader roles
This supports courses where grading and student evaluation responsibilities may be shared across instructional staff.
Why did a TA or grader receive a Progress Report request?
OnCourse uses instructional role data officially listed in SIS by default when distributing Progress Reports. Instructors or graders not listed in SIS will not receive Progress Reports.
Departments should communicate internally regarding which instructional staff are expected to complete reports.
Can we limit Progress Reports to only instructors with grading access?
Currently, Progress Report distribution is based on instructional roles imported from SIS rather than grade-posting permissions. Departments should review SIS role assignments carefully before Progress Report campaigns begin.
Do instructors need full OnCourse access to complete Progress Reports?
No. Instructors can complete Progress Reports directly from the email link they receive, even if they do not have full OnCourse access.
Faculty who complete required trainings may request expanded OnCourse permissions.
Why did a student receive an “academic concern” message when I selected “No”?
Selecting a notification reason may still trigger a case or student communication depending on campaign configuration. Faculty should carefully review all selected notification reasons before submitting Progress Reports.
| Notification Reason | Student Notified | Case/Open Alert Created |
| Attendance Concern | Yes | Yes |
| Missing Assignments | Yes | No |
| Academic Concern | Yes | Yes |
| Positive Feedback | Yes | No |
| No Concnerns | No | No |
“Attendance Concern” - Triggers student notification and support outreach
“Low Quiz/Test Scores” - Student receives notification
“No Concerns” - No notification sent
What happens if I leave a student unmarked on the Progress Report?
If a student is left unmarked:
- the system treats the student as “not at risk,”
- and counts the instructor as having completed the report.
If a student is left unmarked on a Progress Report, the system treats that student as “not at risk.” This applies when an instructor marks some students but leaves others blank, the unmarked students are automatically interpreted as not needing an alert, and the instructor’s report is still counted as completed once submitted.
If an instructor submits the report without marking any students at all, then all students would effectively be treated as “not at risk.”
Are Progress Report comments part of the student’s academic record?
Yes. Progress Report comments become part of the student’s educational record and should remain:
- academic in nature,
- professional,
- and free from confidential or personal information.
Why am I receiving Progress Reports for a course I do not teach?
This is usually caused by instructional role assignments in SIS or course data synchronization issues. Departments should verify:
- instructor assignments,
- co-instructor roles,
- and TA assignments in SIS.
What should I do if I received the wrong course or section?
Please contact the OnCourse support team and include:
- course number,
- section number,
- term,
- and a description of the issue.
Can co-instructors both complete Progress Reports?
Yes. Multiple instructional staff assigned to a course may receive and complete Progress Reports.
Departments should internally determine who is responsible for submitting official feedback.
Should TAs complete Progress Reports?
That depends on departmental practices. In some large-enrollment courses, TAs may have the most direct knowledge of student performance. In other courses, only the primary instructor should complete reports.
How should faculty use “Yes” and notification reasons?
Faculty should:
- select “Yes” only for students they are concerned about,
- choose notification reasons carefully, and review responses before submitting.
Notification reasons may trigger student outreach and case creation workflows.
Can a submitted Progress Report be reviewed or edited later?
Faculty may have limited ability to review finalized submissions directly. If a report was submitted incorrectly, contact OnCourse support for assistance.
What should I do if I accidentally submitted incorrect information?
Contact OnCourse support as soon as possible with:
- the student’s information,
- course information,
- and the submission date.
Can a Progress Report or note be rescinded?
Yes. The user who entered the report must email oncourse@osu.edu to request the report be rescinded. In the email, they should include the student ID, specify the information that needs to be removed, and clearly indicate what the information should be replaced with.
Student notifications
Why are students receiving automated support emails after a Progress Report?
Some Progress Report campaigns automatically generate outreach messages that:
- provide academic support resources,
- encourage advisor meetings,
- and connect students with tutoring or intervention services.
Can student notification messages be customized?
Yes. Campuses and programs may customize some student-facing messaging templates used during Progress Report campaigns.
What are best practices for writing Progress Report comments?
Comments should:
- focus on academic performance,
- remain factual and professional,
- avoid personal or confidential information,
- and provide actionable feedback for support staff and students.
Should faculty include sensitive student information in Progress Reports?
No. Sensitive personal, medical, or confidential information should never be included in Progress Reports or notes.
How often does OnCourse update course and instructor information from SIS?
OnCourse receives SIS updates nightly. Changes made in SIS before the daily sync will typically appear in OnCourse the next business day.