End-of-Course Evaluation Information and Process

Evaluation Options for 05-06

This is the easiest option for faculty to receive feedback from their students on currently approved end-of-course questions, because you do not have to do anything.  By using the centrally administered system, you do not lose any time in the classroom and do not have to worry about the administration of the survey.

During the central administration of end-of-course evaluations, a specific online survey will be created for each section.  The students enrolled in that section will be populated into the survey.  This limits the survey to only your students and allows them to only complete the survey once.

An example of the survey that will be provided to your students is available for review.  Click here to see what your students will see.  Please note that this example, unlike the survey that will be created for your course, is not restricted and does not require authentication

The URL for your section's survey will be provided to our Student Information System.  This will allow students to access all their course evaluations through their PCStar account.  This provides students a single location to complete all course surveys.  It is also a familiar system to students, which should encourage the completion of the surveys.

Students will be notified through their student email account as to when they can complete the surveys.  Reminder emails will be sent, in order to maximize response rates.

When the survey has expired, Institutional Research will run a program that compiles the results of each section's student evaluations.  The report provided to the instructor will essentially contain the following information:

• Number of students enrolled in the course
• Number of students who participated in the survey
• Percentage of students who participated in the survey
• Likert scale response statistics for each question (mean, frequency of each scale value)
• Compilation of all comments.

There will be no aggregate summary of results of all instructors, nor will any specific results be reported to anyone other than the faculty members, themselves.

Encouraging High Response Rates
Some faculty members are concerned about the response rate they may receive if they use this process.  Research shows that simple actions can dramatically increase student response rates on online surveys.  These actions include:

1. Conduct a mid-semester evaluation online or in class and make sure your students know that you have reviewed the information and are willing to make modifications to the course based on their feedback.  This validates to students that their opinions are taken seriously.
    
2. Provide a small (e.g. quarter of percent incentive) for students who complete the survey.  The administrators of the system can tell you who has completed the survey.  However, there is no way to tell what answers are provided by which student.
   
   If you wish to know what students responded to your specific survey, please complete the "Request Respondent List" form.  Please note, only students who release their identity to you will be included on the list.
    
3. Encourage your students to complete the online survey in class, making sure to explain why the results are important to you and what you will do with their feedback.
    
4. Send reminder emails to students encouraging their participation in the process.  The administrators of the system will send out two reminder emails to all students.

What if I Receive Low Response Rates?
Even if you do everything possible to encourage your students to complete the survey, you may still receive low response rates, just as you might in the traditional cafeteria survey.

Rest assured that the academic administration is behind this system and will take this into consideration during any evaluation process.  You are simply encouraged to document the process you took and what you did to encourage your students to participate.

Who do I contact for more information?
Currently the end-of-course evaluation process is being administered by Liz Osika, Director of User Services, and Jeff Scheib, Research Specialist.  They are being assisted by Lee Artz, Director of the Center for Instructional Excellence, and are working closely with the Faculty Senate.  After December 16, 2005, questions should be forwarded to the Center for Instructional Excellence.