Each academic department or program is required to develop a teaching evaluation plan with the aim of improving the quality of instruction and student learning (MUPIM 7.2.). These plans should include formal evaluation of courses that can be used for both self-improvement and summative assessment (MUPIM 7.2.). Statement on the Evaluation of Teaching
Since 2013, all formal course evaluations have been administered via an online platform.
Policies and Information
Below are key points that should be considered in administering course evaluations to ensure credibility, integrity and instructional improvement:
Instructors should not administer their own evaluations.
Instructors should not provide food or extra credit to entice students to complete evaluations.
Course evaluations will close prior to the start of final exams.
Evaluation results will be available to the instructor after final grades for the semester or term have been submitted.
Each evaluation form includes a common set of six University-level questions, a set of common divisional questions, and a set of questions determined by the department/program. Instructors have the option to add questions to their course evaluation near the beginning of each semester. Once the evaluation period opens, no additional questions may be added.
Independent studies, research, field experience courses or courses with total enrollments of fewer than five (5) students are exempt.
In cross-listed courses, the evaluation form administered will be the one for the “subject code” (of the department/program) in which the student is enrolled. Take the example of ISA/STA 361. Students enrolled in the ISA 361 portion of the course will receive the form that includes the ISA department questions, whereas students enrolled in the STA 361 portion of the course will receive the form that includes the STA department questions.
In cross-listed courses, the “fewer than five student” exemption relates to the total course enrollment (inclusive of all subject codes related to the course). In the example of ISA/STA 361, the exemption would only apply if the total number of students enrolled in ISA and STA 361 is fewer than five.
All instructors (primary and secondary) will be evaluated in team-taught courses. Note: Because the primary instructor is the first instructor listed in Banner, this policy could result in “supervising” faculty being evaluated along with those instructors who may be facilitating sections of the course.
Students enrolled in sections with the same course title that meet on the same day(s), at the same time(s), and in the same room will be given the same evaluation form that combines all of the questions.
Note: Many classes consist of multiple contact times which may or may not have the same instructor. For example, a large lecture course taught by Dr. Wong may have multiple lab sections with different instructors (Professor Smith, Taylor and Jones) and meeting times. Because departments do not assign CRNs in a consistent way in this situation, it is difficult to identify the “unit of observation” for digital evaluations.
