---
title: Defaults
slug: defaults
createdAt: 2025-03-17T19:45:07.354Z
---

The **Defaults** tab in Institution Config / Courses allows you to set global settings that affect how courses function in areas such as attendance tracking, GPA calculations, enrollment restrictions, and display preferences.

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## Attendance Calculation

Determines how average attendance is calculated. Adjusting this setting will only affect attendance calculations **going forward** and will not retroactively change previously recorded attendance data.

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- **Using Attendance Hours** – Calculates average attendance as:
  *Avg Attendance = Student Hours to Date / Course Hours to Date*
  This method accounts for late arrivals and the number of hours per class, making it a more precise measure of attendance.
- **Using Attendance Count** – Calculates average attendance as:
  *Avg Attendance = Student Classes Attended to Date / Course Classes to Date*
  This method does not consider late arrivals or class duration, often resulting in a higher attendance average.

## GPA Max Value

Sets the maximum possible Grade Point Average (GPA) allowed in the system. The default value is **4.00**, but you can adjust it if your institution uses a different scale.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/EMXSrXCMJNZqBWMVbZKkz_screen-shot-2025-03-19-at-121121-pm.png)

## Default Late Settings

Defines how lateness is tracked and deducted from attendance. 

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/LmBjsNP0nQ2FpVJBiS63j_screen-shot-2025-03-19-at-121252-pm.png)

**Default Late Type**

- **Minutes** – Late arrivals are deducted based on a set number of minutes. 
  - The field **Default Late Minutes** appears, where you can enter the number of minutes deducted (default: **15 minutes**).
- **Percentage** – A percentage of attendance is deducted based on lateness. 
  - The field **Default Late 0-100%** appears, where you can select a percentage from a dropdown menu. When using **Percentage**, the deduction applies proportionally based on the total course attendance value.

## Use Withdrawn Courses

This setting determines whether withdrawn courses are included in cumulative grade and attendance calculations.

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**When enabled**, withdrawn courses are included in GPA and attendance calculations. Even if a student withdraws from a course, their grades and attendance records for that course will still count toward their overall academic performance.

## Enrollment Restrictions

These settings determine whether students can enroll in courses if they exceed capacity, lack prerequisites, attempt to enroll in duplicate courses, or have schedule conflicts.

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**Enforce Capacity** controls whether students can enroll in a course that has reached its maximum capacity. When **enabled**, students cannot enroll beyond the set course capacity. 

**When Prerequisites Are Missing** determines what happens if a student does not meet the required prerequisites for a course.

- **Do Nothing:** Students can enroll without prerequisites.
- **Show Warning: **Students receive a warning but can still enroll.
- **Restrict Enrollment:** Students cannot enroll unless all prerequisites are met.

**Enforce No Duplicate** prevents students from enrolling in multiple courses with the same course code. When **enabled**, a student cannot enroll in a course if they are already enrolled in another course with the same code. If courses are cross-listed under multiple codes, enabling this setting may prevent students from enrolling in courses that share the same content.

**When Schedule Conflicts** determines what happens if a student attempts to enroll in courses with overlapping schedules.

- **Do Nothing:** Students can enroll in conflicting courses without restriction.
- **Show Warning:** Students receive a warning but can still enroll.
- **Restrict Enrollment:** Students cannot enroll in a course if it conflicts with another course they are already enrolled in.

## Show Student Photos

When enabled, student photos appear in course gradebooks and attendance tracking.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/dAaYdF15xm67t_NLKoQQv/WoDR_vN20pdaZpXF6xgeZ_screen-shot-2025-03-19-at-124101-pm.png)