Teaching and Course Feedback
The Office of the Provost is responsible for conducting course evaluations 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 mid-semester and end-of semester feedback from our students (Watermark bought EvaluationKit, the company with whom we originally contracted). We are currently transitioning from Watermark to Qualtrics Course Feedback Survey platform.
While the Provost’s Office will retain copies of all course survey data from 2016 to the present, it will be 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).
Course feedback surveys will run exactly as they have in the past, with dates and processes reflecting Faculty Handbook guidance. At the conclusion of each term, students will receive a direct email from provost@plu.edu (versus an email from Watermark or EvalKit or Qualtrics) inviting them to complete the Teaching and Course Feedback Form. Their responses for each class will remain anonymous. Course feedback surveys will be collected by the Provost’s Office and disseminated to instructors, academic unit heads, and college deans shortly after grades are submitted.
Important! At present, no changes will be made to the course feedback survey questions. However, as you’ve heard at Faculty Assembly, we continue to evaluate our options for collecting useful feedback data from students.
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.
PLU utilizes a web-based student end-of-course evaluation system, which is hosted by an off-site vendor known as Qualtrics. Qualitrics uses a secure server that ensures the security of all data.
What Is Qualtrics and How Does It Work?
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?
This 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 two weeks of the course plus 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. Provost Office will pull courses, instructors, and students list from Banner on the 11th day of instruction (after official 10th day numbers have posted).
Course Evaluation Timeline
Prior To Evaluation Launch
- After Official 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, Deans/Chairs and Faculty will be able to access EvaluationKIT and review course information and/or add custom questions to course(s) being evaluated. Instructors can “manage courses” or edit the start/end date(s) and time(s) of their survey(s) if they are planning to administer their evaluation(s) during class time. Any of these changes/additions must be completed prior to the default survey start date(s) listed in their email.
- 1 Week Prior – Students receive “Pre-Survey” announcement email with course tables and survey dates.
- 2 Days Prior – Instructors receive email notification that the survey will launch in 48 hours.
Evaluation Period – Last 3 Weeks of Course (last 2 weeks of course + finals week) for Fall, Spring and Summer Full-Term Courses. Last 1 Week of Course for J-Term and ALL Partial-Term Semester Courses.
- Every 3 days – Reminder and/or Completion Notifications emailed to students.
- Every 2 days – Response Rate emailed to Instructors.
After Evaluation Period Ends
- 1 week after – Final Grades Due
- 2 weeks after – Results Released
IMPORTANT: Instructors are responsible for verifying that course beginning/end dates, enrollment and instructor(s) information is correct in Banner prior to the integration which occurs after the 10th day of instruction. Changes made after this will not be captured by EvaluationKIT but can still be manually adjusted up to 2 weeks prior to the survey start date. Please contact the Provost Office with any changes to instructor/student or course enrollment information.