Course evaluations provide higher education institutions with meaningful student feedback that can improve campus culture and create a more enriching classroom experience. Despite the importance of evaluations, many colleges and universities have low response rates, making it challenging to get accurate and valuable data. Knowing how to increase course evaluation response rates can help you collect more meaningful data to drive institutional change.
Higher ed institutions need evaluation responses to provide students with the change they want to see on campus. But, although many administrators and institutional leaders recognize the importance of this data, many students do not. This guide will help you connect with your students and encourage them to spark change at your institution through increased course evaluation response rates.
Course evaluations are student surveys detailing the classroom culture and describing experiences regarding the instructor or course materials. Higher ed institutions use this student feedback to improve the curriculum, inform campus initiatives, and evaluate instructor effectiveness. This feedback is anonymous so students can discuss their genuine thoughts and feelings.
Course evaluations can take various forms, including:
In their responses, students explain their impression of the instruction style, whether they enjoyed course materials and topics, and their overall thoughts on the instructor and class.
Many institutions administer these evaluations at the end of the semester, usually during the final week of classes. However, some colleges and universities also utilize early or midterm reviews to evaluate whether the instructor meets course objectives and student expectations.
Course evaluations can improve instructional course quality. These assessments are vital for establishing effective teaching styles and ensuring students have an engaging learning experience. Improving the classroom experience can lead to higher retention rates and boost the overall positive culture of your campus.
Instructors can use student feedback to determine if they need to adjust their teaching practices. The changes can lead to more engaging classes and thought-provoking discussions that interest more students.
Administrators can use this information to develop new initiatives and craft a more enriching campus experience for all students. This information can also be beneficial when determining promotions and tenure status for instructors.
Some benefits of course evaluations include:
Despite the many benefits, plenty of higher ed institutions lack evaluation responses. Without enough data to review, it can be challenging to ignite the change students want to see. Knowing how to increase response rates of course evaluations can aid you in obtaining more meaningful student feedback.
Improving the student response rate is critical for obtaining the data you need to improve your program and meet student needs. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we’ve compiled a list of strategies you can try. Consider implementing a combination of these tactics to get the best results.
Although administrators and instructors understand the importance of course evaluations, students may not. If your students have not witnessed significant change, they may hesitate to believe in the assessment’s value. Combat reservations by showing them the changes you’ve already made to improve student experiences, especially if previous course evaluations influenced these changes.
Explain what you hope to gain from the current assessments and how you want to use their feedback. When you say students have an active hand in shaping their education, they may feel more inclined to give you meaningful answers.
Students may feel less inclined to complete an assessment if it involves a time-consuming process. Ensure you’ve made the process simple to finish and guide students through the steps. Whether using convenient online surveys or handing out papers in class, show them how quickly they can complete the evaluation and where to submit it.
Some students may be more likely to complete a course evaluation if you provide an immediate incentive. Although instructors cannot offer class credit for course completion, other rewards or prizes may spark interest. Contact local businesses and present a gift card from a family restaurant in town for 10 random respondents. Or offer a campus store bundle to students from each department.
Giving students class time to complete evaluations makes them more likely to think through their answers because they have the time to do so. Students are very busy, especially at the end of the semester. If they need to allocate their own time to evaluations, they may find it difficult to prioritize these among other assignments. On the other hand, giving them dedicated class time to finish evaluations can increase the chance of them doing so.
Using communication channels to urge students to complete assessments may be the push they need. If instructors are not distributing the evaluations, you can link the surveys elsewhere. Posting daily announcements, listing evaluations on the school website, and adding information to the syllabus may also encourage students to finish their evaluations.
Sometimes students intend to complete their assessments, but other variables get in the way. If your institution uses online course evaluations, your students could benefit from knowing how to submit them. Consider posting a step-by-step demo video guiding them through the evaluation process. This can minimize the chances that technological errors get in the way of submission. Research has shown improved response rates to agree-disagree scale questions when students watch an animated video explaining how the evaluation process works.
With so many things in a student’s mind, it can be easy to forget to complete a course evaluation. Sending reminders can increase the chances they will remember to finish the assessment. Use email reminders, encourage instructors to announce them in class, and post links on class pages so more students are likely to see them. If your system allows you to do so without compromising anonymity, send targeted reminders to those who haven’t submitted their evaluations yet.
Some students are concerned that sharing honest feedback about their instructor or the program could land them in trouble. Others may be tempted to provide only positive feedback if they think this will impact how the department sees them. Some feel too shy to stand out by offering any feedback at all. Anonymity can help address all these obstacles, leading to better response rates and more accurate data.
Don’t assume that students know or trust that they will be anonymous. Instead, explain to them how your evaluation process ensures nobody can trace feedback to the student who gave it. Commit to respecting their anonymity, and follow through with that commitment by implementing a course evaluation system that protects anonymity.
Rather than waiting for the final submission deadline to pass before counting, keep track of how many evaluations students have submitted along the way. While manual counting is always possible, real-time response rate tracking is much more efficient when you’re using an online student survey solution.
If responses trickle in too slowly, you can intervene by sending general or targeted reminders via multiple channels as the deadline approaches. Instructors could give updates to their classes about the number of responses still due at the beginning of every lesson to encourage participation. Monitoring response rates allows you to adapt your intervention plan in real time to bring in more feedback.
You may not be able to award course credit for completing an evaluation, but you can consider making it a mandatory assignment. Each program dean must come to their own decision about whether they want evaluations to be obligatory or just encouraged. If you decide to apply this tactic, it can be very effective. Simply making a course evaluation an assignment and telling students it’s mandatory may increase response rates Enforcing this policy through final grade gating could improve response rates even further.
In fairness to students, you should let them know at the beginning of the semester if your policy is to gate their final grade until they submit an evaluation.
At Watermark, we know information drives changes, and it’s easier to improve when you have meaningful responses in your arsenal. We understand student feedback is essential for higher ed, and that’s why we created Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys.
This student evaluation solution allows you to engage with students right where they are. With language compatibility and deep LMS integration capabilities, you can increase your response rates in no time. Plus, you can efficiently distribute information with your team and turn insights into actionable steps to reach institutional objectives.
Request a demo of Course Evaluations & Surveys and see what Watermark can do to improve your response rates.
