Teaching and Course Feedback

The Office of the Provost is responsible for collecting course feedback using the “Teaching and Course Feedback” form each Summer, Fall, J-Term, and Spring.

Since Fall of 2016, we have used a product from a company called Watermark to collect this feedback from our students (Watermark bought EvaluationKit, the company with whom we originally contracted). As of Fall 2024, we have transitioned to the Qualtrics XM course survey tool to collect feedback from our students.

Click here for information on how to use your individualized instructor dashboard.

Deans and Chairs/Directors overseeing teaching faculty will have access to supplemental dashboards that allow them to see multiple faculty, courses, and/or departments/programs. This data is available to Deans and Chairs/Directors at the same time it is available to faculty instructors.

Click here for information on how to use dean and chair/director dashboards. (forthcoming)

Accessing Old Course Data

The Provost’s Office retains copies of all course survey data from Fall 2016 to the Summer 2024. It is stored in a raw data format (in Excel spreadsheets). You can request past course evaluation data (in raw data format) directly from the Provost’s Office (provost@plu.edu). 

Note: The Office of the Provost does not specify who will be evaluated or determine the questions on the survey form. Course evaluations are administered in accordance with the guidelines set forth and approved by the Faculty Assembly. Please refer to the PLU Faculty Handbook for more details. 

What Is Qualtrics and How Does It Work?

PLU utilizes a web-based student end-of-course evaluation system, which is hosted by an off-site vendor known as Qualtrics. Qualtrics uses a secure server that ensures the security of all data.

Qualtrics is a fully hosted online tool for administering course evaluations. The tool is available for use campus-wide and is integrated with Banner and the PLU e-Pass, providing easy access for both instructors and students. Course evaluations and reports can be accessed on any computer or mobile device. Qualtrics is easy, convenient, secure, and confidential.

When Do Course Evaluations Take Place?

The timeline of course feedback surveying is dependent on the specific course and the academic calendar in which it is offered. As per the Faculty Handbook, the course evaluation window is open during the last 20% of the course, including finals week during a regular semester. Half semester, J-Term and Summer course evaluations are open for one week prior to the course end date.

Instrucor & Course Feedback Survey Timeline

Prior To Feedback Survey Launch  

  • After 10th Day Numbers – Provost Office will pull courses, instructors, and students list from Banner.
  • 2 Weeks Prior “Pre-Survey Period” –  During this 2 week period, Faculty will be able to add custom questions to course(s) being evaluated. Faculty must select custom questions from a pre-determined list. They will be prompted each term to submit individualized course questions
  • 1 Week Prior – Students receive “Pre-Survey” announcement email with  survey dates.
  • 2 Days Prior – Instructors receive email notification that the survey will launch in 48 hours.

Feedback Survey Period – The Last 3 Weeks of Course (the default survey window is the last 2 weeks of course + finals week) for Fall and Spring Full-Term Courses. Last 1 Week of Course for J-Term, Summer, and ALL Partial-Term Semester Courses.

  • Every 3 days – Reminder and/or Completion Notifications emailed to students.
  • The Response Rate will be available to Instructors via their Qualtrics Dashboard.

After Feedback Survey Period Ends

  • 1 week after – Final Grades Due
  • Approx. 2 weeks after – Results Released

Feedback Survey Release Dates

Course survey results are available approximately 7-10 days after grades are due following the schedule below:

Fall Term – Results available January 1

January Term – Results available February 15

Spring Term – Results available June 10

Summer Term – Results available September 15

IMPORTANT: Instructors are responsible for verifying that course beginning/end dates, enrollment and instructor(s) information is correct in Banner prior to release of the survey. Please contact the Provost Office with any changes to instructor/student or course enrollment information.

Instructor and Course Feedback Survey Questions

To view a specific course evaluation timeline

choose a Term below:

Summer

Fall

J-Term

Spring

Qualtrics Faculty FAQ