Course Evaluations

More Information...

• Student FAQs
  • Why are we asked to complete course evaluations?

    Course evaluations are one means of providing faculty with supportive feedback about their students’ experiences in a class. Respectful and constructive feedback about the student experience can help faculty improve their courses and identify both challenges and successes of students.

  • When is the evaluation period?

    Evaluations are conducted once approximately 80% of teaching days in a given term are complete. First block course evaluations are open for one week; 2nd block and full term course evaluations are open for two weeks. All evaluations close prior to finals.

  • How do I access my course evaluations?

    Course evaluations can be accessed in a number of ways:

    • Students will receive an email with a link to their course evaluations. This email is sent the first day of the evaluation period and a reminder email is sent two prior to the close of the evaluation period to students who have un/incomplete evaluations
    • When students login to Canvas during the evaluation period, a popup box will appear with a link to the evaluations. Alternatively, within Canvas students can select the ‘Course Evaluations’ link in the Canvas navigation bar
    • Some faculty may share a QR code in class which provides students access to the course evaluation for that class
  • Help! I need to make a correction to an evaluation I already submitted; can I do that?

    Students can make updates to their submitted evaluations by selecting the link provided in the original email or accessing via the link in Canvas. Evaluation responses can be updated only during the evaluation period. When the evaluation is resubmitted, the original response will be replaced. Once the evaluation period has ended, no changes can be made!

  • My instructor has indicated that I can receive credit for submitting a course evaluation. How do I show proof of completing that evaluation?

    Once a course evaluation has been completed and submitted students will see a ‘thank you’ page that includes a link to download a certificate of evaluation completion. Download the certificate, save it to your computer, and send a copy to your instructor per their instructions. Keep in mind that many instructors do not incentivize participation.

  • Does sending a certificate compromise the confidentiality of my evaluation?

    No. Faculty will not receive results of their evaluation until after final grades have been submitted. The reports do not contain any student identification (unless a student includes their name in open-ended responses); your results are confidential.

  • Who else has access to the course evaluation data?

    The data from course evaluations are included in promotion and tenure decisions for your instructors. Therefore, their administrators will have access to the course reports. The Course Evaluation Administrators will also have access to the data. Again, no personally identifying information is included in this data.

  • Who may I contact with questions or concerns?

    You can contact the Course Evaluation Administrator, via email at oie@weber.edu

• Faculty FAQs
  • When is the Weber State course evaluation period?

    Evaluations are conducted once approximately 80% of teaching days in a given term are complete. First block course evaluations are open for one week; 2nd block and full term course evaluations are open for two weeks. All evaluations close prior to finals.

  • How do my students access their course evaluations?

    Course evaluations can be accessed in a number of ways:

    • Students will receive an email with a link to their course evaluations. This email is sent the first day of the evaluation period and a reminder email is sent two prior to the close of the evaluation period to students who have un/incomplete evaluations
    • When students login to Canvas during the evaluation period, a popup box will appear with a link to the evaluations. Alternatively, within Canvas students can select the ‘Course Evaluations’ link in the Canvas navigation bar
    • Faculty may share a QR code in class which provides students access to the course evaluation for that class
      • Instructions for how to obtain a QR code for a class 
  • How do I monitor student response rates?
    • Log in the eWeber portal
    • Locate the app labeled Blue Course Evaluations
    • Select the link which will direct your to the Explorance login window; select ‘Users’ from the drop down menu and you will be authenticated to the application
    • On the left-hand side, just under your profile, you will see a link to view response rates:

      

    • Alternatively, faculty will be sent an email, once course evaluations are active, that includes a direct link to their course response monitor.

    • For more information about navigating your Blue homepage, please view this guide.

  • My student response rates are low; what can I do to increase them?

    Faculty can implement a number of strategies to increase evaluation response rates:

    • Talk with your students about the importance and use of course evaluations. If you can share an example of change you have implemented as a result of feedback from your course evaluations that will help your students to see your investment in their feedback
    • Give students time in class to complete their evaluation(s)
    • Create a 0 point assignment in Canvas with a due date of the last day of the evaluation period. This puts the evaluation on the students' Canvas calendars. The assignment can be created as a 'no submission' assignment.
    • Or consider an incentive (see below for details on how to set that up)
    • Additional resources 
      • Article: Top 20 Strategies to Increase the Online Response Rates of Student Rating Scales 
  • I would like to provide students credit for completing their course evaluation. What is the process for doing so?

    Once a student has completed a course evaluation and submitted their responses, they will see a ‘thank you’ page that includes a link to download a certificate of evaluation completion. Instruct your students to download the certificate, save it to their computer, and submit a copy to you per your instructions.

    • Faculty can create an assignment within Canvas to which evaluation certificates of completion can be submitted.
    • You can direct students to send you the certificate directly to your email.
  • Does sending a certificate compromise the confidentiality of a student’s evaluation?

    No. Faculty will not receive results of their evaluation until after final grades have been submitted. The reports do not contain any student identification (unless a student includes their name in open-ended responses); so student results are completely confidential. Evaluation reports will not be generated unless at least 3 students have completed the evaluation.

  • Where can I see the evaluation results/feedback for my courses?

    After course grades have been submitted, you will receive an email with a direct link to your evaluation feedback reports. You can also access results from the Blue Explorance dashboard: https://my-weber.bluera.com/weber. You will be asked to log in using the same Weber State credentials you use to check your email. An app will become available in the eWeber portal for direct access as well.

  • Who else has access to the course evaluation data?

    The data from course evaluations are included in promotion and tenure decisions for faculty. Therefore, their administrators will have access to the course reports. The Course Evaluation Administrators will also have access to the data.

  • What is the Blue Dashboard and how do I use it?

    The Blue Dashboard is an interactive display of course evaluation results. At the end of the spring 2023 term, the dashboard will include both the fall 2022 term and the spring 2023 term. Additional evaluation results will be added each semester to allow faculty to look at trends, filter results (for example - all online sections for a single course), drill down to a specific question group, and view results in numerous ways. For further information regarding the dashboard, please refer to the guides linked below. (The guides may include features that are not yet available, please contact oie@weber.edu if you need additional help.)

    Dashboard Update Guide (October 2024)
    
    Individual Dashboard Guide
    
    Aggregate Dashboard Guide

  • Who may I contact with questions or concerns?

    You can contact the Course Evaluation Administrator, via email at oie@weber.edu

  • Evaluation Instrument

    Here's a copy of the Current Evaluation.

  • References

    List of References