As American academic and researcher Brené Brown said, “If we shield ourselves from all feedback, we stop growing.” Feedback is vital to improvement — and course evaluations are critical tools for colleges and universities to receive it.
Course evaluations serve as a structured way to collect feedback from students regarding their
learning experience, the effectiveness of instructors, and the overall quality of a course. This feedback
offers invaluable insight into areas that need improvement, ranging from teaching methods to curriculum content, and helps higher education institutions remain responsive to the evolving needs
of students.
The primary purpose of course evaluations is to gather essential data that can be used to drive
institutional improvement. For professors, course evaluations offer insights into how they can better
tailor their teaching methods. For instance, if students consistently highlight that certain materials
or concepts are not clear, this feedback can encourage instructors to rethink their approach to
teaching those areas. This feedback is also crucial in helping departments identify which courses are
succeeding and which may need a closer review.
In the long run, this feedback aids programmatic improvements across an institution. Departments
can use course evaluations to gauge how students are responding to various majors, minors, or elective
offerings. If a course consistently receives poor feedback, the department may need to reexamine its
content, instructional approach, or overall structure.
One of the most traditional forms of course evaluations is pen-and-paper evaluations. Students are given paper surveys to fill out during the last days of class, the results are manually compiled, and then the data is entered into static spreadsheets. While this method offers some insights, the data processing is tedious and prone to errors.
Homegrown systems have emerged as an alternative, but this software is often not user-friendly or secure, and it still requires significant manual work to produce useful data. Some institutions have adopted basic surveying software, but typically these tools are made to capture quick feedback — they aren’t equipped to process large volumes of data and produce actionable insights.
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically shifted the landscape of higher education, and course evaluations were no exception. According to a 2020 survey of 700 higher education institutions, 87 percent of institutions prioritized student feedback as a way to gain insights into the curriculum and student experience. However, with the rapid shift to online and hybrid learning models, 51 percent of these institutions had to adjust their processes for conducting evaluations. Concerns arose about the context of the feedback in an online environment, with 61.5 percent of those institutions who modified their processes reporting that the sudden move to online learning impacted the collection and use of evaluation data.
The pandemic also exposed the limitations of paper-based and manual evaluation systems. About 20 percent of institutions that made adjustments had still been using paper-based methods, which were no longer feasible in a virtual learning environment.
And just over 7 percent reported they didn’t have the time or capacity to conduct evaluations due to pandemic-related constraints. Despite these challenges, nearly half of the institutions surveyed planned to increase the frequency of evaluations and expand the types of feedback collected.
Accurate, timely feedback is crucial for institutional improvement. Without it, professors risk continuing
ineffective teaching methods, and departments may overlook critical issues within their programs. Furthermore, if higher education institutions fail to adapt, they risk losing students, as evidenced by continuing school closures in recent years. Low enrollment rates and declining student satisfaction contributed to the closure of several institutions during and after the pandemic. This underscores the importance of having a robust course evaluation system in place to gather, analyze, and act on feedback before small issues escalate into larger, institutional problems.
Course evaluations are standardized assessments used to collect feedback from students about their experiences in a particular course. They typically include questions about the quality of instruction, the relevance of course materials, and the overall learning environment. While the content of evaluations varies from institution to institution, the purpose remains consistent: to provide educators and administrators with data that can be used to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
Course evaluations have been used for decades as a means of assessing teaching effectiveness. Initially, they were conducted through in-class surveys using pen and paper. In the 1990s, the rise of technology allowed institutions to begin experimenting with online evaluations, and by the early 2000s, many universities had adopted digital systems. Despite the increased efficiency of online evaluations, response rates remained a challenge. Recent innovations, including mobile-friendly platforms and integrated learning management system (LMS) solutions, have helped increase participation and improve the quality of data collected.
Different types of course evaluations serve various purposes:
Quality improvement
One of the primary functions of course evaluations is to promote quality improvement. By gathering
feedback on teaching effectiveness and course content, institutions can identify areas that need development. This helps professors adjust their methods to improve student learning outcomes and
provides departments with data to refine their course offerings.
Student Engagement
Course evaluations also play a vital role in fostering student engagement by encouraging students to voice their opinions on their learning experience. This sense of agency promotes accountability among educators
and signals to students that their feedback is valued.
Institutional decision-making
The data collected from course evaluations is instrumental in making informed decisions about curriculum development, faculty reviews, and programmatic changes.
Enhancing student learning experiences
Informing faculty development and training
Strengthening academic program quality
Building a feedback loop
Common obstacles
Despite their importance, course evaluations face several challenges, including low response rates, biased feedback, and outdated technology. For example, many schools struggle with getting a significant portion of students to complete evaluations. Without sufficient participation, the data collected may not be representative.
Misconceptions about course evaluations
A significant challenge in improving course evaluations is addressing common misconceptions, such as:
Montreat College’s experience with an innovative course evaluations and surveys software solution was “worldchanging,” said Dr. Paul Gratton, D.B.A., former Associate Dean and Chair of Business at Montreat’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies. “I had a great admin named Mary Jo. Mary Jo was part-time, trying to cover a full-time load of work, and was bogged down, having to manually compile and email these end-of-course surveys to people directly.” Before, end-of-class evaluation and survey feedback saw a lag time of three to four months — much too late to make meaningful changes before the next courses began. After implementing the new solution, the school began seeing results within about a week, with no manual work required.
Similarly, Florida National University (FNU) faced significant delays in processing course evaluation data. Dr. Anthony Berrios, Ph.D., former Vice President of Academic Affairs at FNU, highlighted the challenges they faced: “Before, it would take months for survey response data to get filtered and distributed. So by the time that data actually came out, it wasn’t even actionable anymore.” After implementing an advanced evaluation system, FNU began receiving survey results within three days of a course’s end, allowing them to act on the
feedback before the next course cycle started.
Colleges and universities can address these challenges by leveraging modern technology and framing evaluations as a tool for growth rather than judgment. Modern course evaluation platforms offer real-time analytics and make data easy to access and analyze, helping higher education institutions make timely decisions. In fact, using tech-forward solutions can transform the course evaluation experience:
Best practices
Increasing student participation in course evaluations is essential for gathering comprehensive and representative feedback. Colleges and universities can adopt several best practices to boost response rates and ensure evaluations are seen as valuable by students.
Timing and frequency of evaluations
Timing is crucial in achieving higher response rates. Conducting evaluations during class time often results
in higher participation. For online and hybrid courses, sending reminders close to the course’s end or directly integrating evaluations within LMS platforms helps capture students while the course is fresh in
their minds.
Additionally, conducting mid-term evaluations allows faculty to make real-time adjustments, which increases the likelihood that students will see the results of their feedback and feel encouraged to participate in future evaluations.
Utilizing technology for convenience
Moving away from paper-based evaluations and adopting userfriendly online platforms can dramatically increase response rates. When evaluations are accessible via mobile devices, students can complete them at their convenience, leading to higher participation. Integrating evaluations into existing LMS systems also helps streamline the process, making it easier for students to access surveys without additional steps.
Incentives and engagement strategies
While convenience is essential, students may need extra motivation to complete evaluations. Offering incentives or clearly communicating that the impact of their feedback can drive engagement.
Communicating the importance of feedback
Colleges and universities need to make students aware of how their feedback contributes to real improvements. Transparency is key: when students see that their suggestions are valued and acted upon, they are more likely to participate in future evaluations. Additionally, faculty should emphasize that evaluations are anonymous, making students feel comfortable sharing their honest opinions.
Offering incentives
Some higher ed institutions have found success in offering small incentives for completing evaluations, such as entry into a raffle, bonus points, or small prizes. These strategies can boost response rates without undermining the integrity of the evaluation process.
Improving response rates with tech
Innovative tech solutions can drive significantly higher response rates due to features like LMS integration, automated reminders, and mechanisms like locking grades behind a completion wall, motivating students to participate. By making it easy and rewarding for students to provide feedback, schools can achieve high participation rates.
Ensuring anonymity and confidentiality
Students are more likely to provide candid feedback if they know that their responses will remain anonymous. Institutions must clearly communicate the confidentiality of evaluations and make sure that no identifying information is collected, particularly when evaluations are conducted online.
Framing evaluations as a tool for improvement
One of the most effective ways to boost participation is to frame evaluations as a tool for course improvement, rather than as a critique of individual instructors. When students understand that their feedback can lead to a better learning experience, they are more likely to engage thoughtfully with the evaluation process.
Designing effective surveys
The design of course evaluations plays a critical role in gathering meaningful feedback. Institutions should focus on crafting clear, concise questions that encourage thoughtful responses.
Crafting clear and concise questions
Evaluation surveys should avoid overly complicated or ambiguous questions. Instead, focus on asking questions that address specific aspects of the course, such as:
By using straightforward language, colleges and universities can ensure students understand the questions and provide relevant responses.
Balancing quantitative and qualitative feedback
While quantitative questions (e.g., rating scales) allow institutions to easily compare responses across courses, qualitative feedback (e.g., open-ended questions) provides deeper insights into student experiences. A balanced approach — using both closed-ended and open-ended questions — ensures that evaluations capture both measurable data and nuanced perspectives.
Utilizing various evaluation methods
In addition to traditional surveys, institutions can use a combination of evaluation methods to gain richer insights into the student experience.
Focus groups and interviews
For courses that require more in-depth analysis, focus groups and interviews can provide a more detailed understanding of student experiences. These methods allow for follow-up questions and clarifications, allowing you to capture subtler responses.
Peer evaluations
In some cases, incorporating peer evaluations can provide valuable insights into how instructors interact with students and colleagues. This can be particularly useful for evaluating teamwork-based or project-driven courses.
Feedback loop
Closing the feedback loop is critical for maintaining student engagement with the evaluation process.
Sharing results with students and faculty
Institutions should ensure that feedback from course evaluations is shared with both faculty and students.
When students see the results and understand how their feedback is being used, they are more likely to
participate in future evaluations.
Implementing changes based on feedback
Acting on evaluation feedback is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the process. Institutions should prioritize implementing meaningful changes based on student responses and communicate those changes
to both current and future students.
Advanced reporting techniques
Collecting data is only the first step; colleges and universities must also analyze and present the results in a
way that supports decision-making.
Data visualization and trend analysis
Data visualization tools can help higher ed institutions identify trends over time and compare feedback across departments or courses. By presenting data visually — such as through charts, graphs, and dashboards — administrators and faculty can more easily identify patterns and take action on key insights.
Sharing best practices across departments
Higher education institutions should foster a culture of collaboration by encouraging departments to share
insights and best practices based on evaluation data. This can lead to institution-wide improvements and foster a sense of shared responsibility for enhancing the student experience.
Utilizing course evaluation data for strategic planning
Course evaluation data can inform broader strategic decisions, from curriculum development to resource
allocation. By analyzing feedback at a macro level, schools can identify systemic issues, track progress over
time, and align improvements with their long-term goals.
Roanoke-Chowan Community College experienced a dramatic improvement in response rates after adopting a new software solution. “Our response rates were in the 30 percent range,” said Jami Woods, former Vice President of Instruction and Student Services. “Our first semester using Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys, we were at 83 percent. The only thing that changed was the technology.”
Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys offers several key benefits, including:
Higher response rates
Achieving participation rates as high as 80 to 90 percent.
Real-time analytics
Instant access to evaluation results, enabling timely action.
Data integration
Seamless integration with LMS platforms, eliminating manual processes.
Customizable surveys
Institutions can tailor evaluation questions to their specific needs.
By collecting accurate, timely feedback, institutions can make data-driven decisions that enhance
teaching effectiveness, improve the student experience, and strengthen academic programs.
As higher education continues to shift, institutions must adopt cutting-edge solutions to ensure their
course evaluation processes are efficient, responsive, and impactful. Implementing best practices,
leveraging technology, and maintaining a strong feedback loop will empower institutions to continuously
improve and adapt to the needs of both students and faculty.
Encouraging colleges and universities to implement more advanced course evaluation solutions — such
as Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys — can help them overcome common challenges, boost
response rates, and ensure that feedback translates into real change. The stakes are high; institutions
that fail to prioritize effective evaluations may face student dissatisfaction and declining enrollment.
Amid the increasing competition that colleges and universities face, improving the course evaluation
process is vital to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and staying responsive to the needs of
those who matter most — students.
See how our tools are helping clients right now, get in-depth information on topics that matter, and stay up-to-date on trends in higher ed.
