Blackboard Ultra Assignments include a setting that allows instructors to choose to collect submissions offline. The benefit to this is that when Assignments are created using Blackboard's Assignment tool, a column is automatically created in the Gradebook, so it makes grades easier to manage. It also allows for attaching a rubric and providing a grade and feedback to students. A Due Date can be added to the Assignment, which creates a reminder for students right in the course Calendar. 

One pitfall instructors have encountered when using the Collect Submissions Offline setting, however, is when a due date is added to the Assignment, and when instructors grade student submissions after the due date, the submissions are marked that the student submitted them late. This may not be the case, however, because if students submitted their work on time, the instructor may not be able to complete the grading under after the due date. 

Note that per the Anthology Idea Exchange, Blackboard does plan to resolve this issue, but we don't know when that will happen.

There are a couple of options to troubleshoot this issue. 

Including a Due Date

If you would like to include a due date with the assignment, you can add the date that the student submitted their assignment so that it is not marked as late. To do this:

1. Navigate to the Gradebook in your Blackboard Ultra course.
2. If not already in the Grades view, select the Grades tab towards the top of the Gradebook.
   
   
   
   
3. In the column for the assignment that is set to "Collect Submissions Offline" select the cell for the student whose paper you wish to enter a grade for.
4. Enter a grade for the assignment.
5. Ensure that the grade or grades are posted. You can post grades when you have finished grading one or more assignment.
   
   
   
   
6. Once you have posted one or more grades, select the assignment column header in the Gradebook (click on the icon, not the name of the column).
7. Select Edit.
   
   
   
   
8. Towards the top of the Gradebook, select Grades.
   
   
   
   
9. You should see a list of your students. For any student whose grade is posted, select Posted.
   
   
   
   
10. You'll be taken to the Create Attempt page. In the Submission date field, enter the date and time the student submitted the assignment. If you do not want the assignment to be marked as "late" enter a date and time before the due date.
11. Click Save.
    
    

The student's assignment should no longer show as Late.

Do Not Set a Due Date

Another option is to not set a due date for the assignment, but indicate the due date and time on the course Calendar. This way, students will be reminded about the upcoming due date, but won't receive the late notification. To do so:

1. Navigate to the Assignment in your Course Content and select the Assessment Settings (gear) icon.
   
   
   
   
2. Under the Due Date heading, select the No due date checkbox.
3. Select Save.
4. Close the Assignment to return to the Course Content page.
   
   
   
   
5. Select Calendar towards the top of the page.
   
   
   
   
6. Select the plus sign in the upper right corner
7. Select Add Event.
   
   
   
   
8. Enter a name for the event.
9. Enter a start and end date for the event. There isn't an option to create a true due date here, but you might enter the current date and time as the start date and, if collecting papers in class, the start time of your course as the end time.
10. Enter a location if desired (for example, "in class").
11. Enter a description if desired.
12. Select Save.