Web Applications and Technology - Student Course Feedback

Online Student Course Feedback - Overview

Please read this section for an overview of student course feedback. Subsequent sections contain details and background information.

  • In Fall 2013, UT Dallas implemented UT System's Guidelines for Student Evaluation. Presently, the student course feedback process follows these guidelines:
    • Classes of any type with 5 or more students are required to collect course feedback.
    • Classes with less than 5 students will not be surveyed.
    • Lab courses are excluded from collecting feedback, unless they are combined lecture/lab courses or core curriculum courses, due to Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter N, Rule 4.227(10). However, schools and/or programs could request the lab courses to be surveyed by emailing wat@utdallas.edu.
    • The end-of-term course feedback period runs for a full three weeks. During this period, the feedback system sends multiple emails reminders to students to complete feedback surveys. The course feedback calendar is available on the UT Dallas UES Student Course Feedback Homepage.
    • The full open course feedback period is full seven weeks, unless the course is run for a limited time, e.g., a mini-session that may be run briefly for 10 days, before the active period opens for students to provide their feedback via CourseBook.
    • Note not all classes will be asked to provide feedback. Please check to see if the course is excluded as shown in the “Not finding surveys for all of your classes” section on the UT Dallas UES Student Course Feedback Homepage.
    • Official grades can be viewed in Orion, the University’s official source, when they are posted according to the published academic calendar. Students may also view their unofficial grades in Coursebook and eLearning.
    • Instructors of record at their discretion may ask students to provide feedback in the online system during a class session. The feedback system is mobile device enabled and works very well in a class setting. Please review the guidelines below for suggestions to complete feedback surveys in class.
  • During the open course feedback period - response rates by school are available on the UT Dallas UES Student Course Feedback Homepage.

Suggestions for Completing Student Course Feedback in Class

Instructors have the discretion to allocate class time for students to complete their feedback during the two weeks before the finals week. The feedback period will remain open during the finals week. This is a great way to increase the student course feedback response rate. The two most common methods to access the feedback forms are via personalized emails sent to students’ UT Dallas email addresses or via the UES Student Course Feedback website. The website method is the preferred method for in class feedback because all students will have the same experience:

  1. Visit https://eval.utdallas.edu
  2. Click the “Login to Complete the Student Course Feedback” button and login using university NetID and Password.
  3. Click the button for the class for which you want to provide feedback.

UT Dallas' Current Guidelines for Student Course Feedback

The combination of the Texas Education Code Section 51.974 end-of-course feedback requirements with UT Dallas' institutional requirements results in the following policies to obtain students’ feedback regarding their courses at UT Dallas:

  • Student course feedback surveys must be conducted for all undergraduate and graduate classes with 5 or more students.
  • Student course feedback will not be enabled for classes with 1-4 students.
  • Student course feedback surveys must be conducted for all classes designated as fulfilling a Texas General Education Core Curriculum unless the student enrollment is below 5.
  • End-of-course feedback start three weeks before the official grades are posted in Orion; the official grades posted dates are listed in the Academic Calendar.
  • End-of-course feedback surveys end the day before the official grades are posted in Orion as shown in the Academic Calendar.
  • All student course feedback uses an updated "UT Dallas CORE" survey instrument (originally designed by a Faculty Senate sub-committee in 2011). The updated instrument has been designated "CORE2".
  • CORE2 is primarily a rearrangement of the original CORE survey with 2 additional questions, and 2 reworded questions.
  • Official grades can be viewed in Orion, the University's official source, when they are posted according to the published academic calendar. Students may also view their unofficial grades in CourseBook and eLearning.
  • Exceptions to the student course feedback requirement are granted by the Provost. Requests must be made in writing (email) and need to provide a clear reason.

UT System's Guidelines for Student Evaluation (Implemented Fall 2013 – Historical Background)

In response to UT System's Guidelines for Student Evaluation of Faculty (2013-08-26), the Universal Evaluation System (UES) and procedures have been updated to achieve compliance with both the required and recommended elements of the guidelines.

The UT System Task Force was created to identify a consistent method of evaluation across multiple institutions and derived a solution almost identical to the existing UES system in use at UT Dallas since 2011. UT Dallas' evaluation methodology and materials were provided to the UT System Task Force to aid in the development of the policies. The changes needed to meet all requirements and recommendations were minimal.

The updated evaluation process went into effect Fall 2013 (per UT System requirement).

Updated Survey - CORE 2: Questions (Fall 2013-onward)

  • The instructor clearly defined and explained the course objectives and expectations.
  • The instructor was prepared for each instructional activity.
  • The instructor communicated information effectively.
  • The instructor encouraged me to take an active role in my own learning.
  • The instructor was available to students either electronically or in person.
  • The instructor seemed genuinely interested in teaching.
  • The instructor provided timely feedback.
  • The instructor evaluated students fairly.
  • Overall, this instructor was excellent.
  • The course objectives were clearly defined.
  • The course was well organized.
  • Overall, the course was excellent.
  • I was free to ask questions and express my opinions and ideas.
  • My performance was evaluated fairly.
  • I discussed ideas from this course with others outside the classroom.
  • This course has been (or will be) of value to me.
  • This course inspired me to learn more.

How Online Student Course Feedback Works

  • Students participate in surveys by filling out an online course feedback form.
  • Each registered student is permitted ONE FEEDBACK FORM for each class they take.
  • There are three ways for a student to gain access to their feedback forms.
    • Method 1: All registered students can log in to CourseBook (coursebook.utdallas.edu) - the University’s official class information system - and access the form by clicking the "Provide Your Feedback Now" link. This link is only available to registered students of the class. Note: if the registered student drops the class or withdraws from the class, the link will no longer be available.
    • Method 2: All registered students will receive a personalized email at the beginning of the active campaign. The email contains a unique web link with one-click access to the evaluation form. Follow-up emails are sent to students who do not complete the evaluation (likewise students that do complete the evaluation will not receive additional emails).
    • Method 3: Instructors can send emails to students containing unique web links with CourseBook Mail.

What Departments and Schools Can Do

  • Make sure faculty understand how the course feedback system (UES) works. Each instructor should know that:
    • An email is sent to the student’s UT Dallas official email address.
    • The email contains a single click URL link for students to provide their feedback for each class.
    • Each student can only provide their feedback for each enrolled class one time.
    • Students need to provide their feedback before the end date and time as specified in the email or in the Student Course Feedback calendar.
    • Students’ responses are anonymous.
    • Because emails could be unreliable due to spam filters, etc., students need to know that they can complete their feedback via CourseBook even without the email.
    • Emails will stop after the student provides their feedback for each enrolled class. Otherwise, the student will continue to receive emails inviting them to participate (usually two rounds of emails are sent – when the student feedback period opens and another email will be sent before the feedback period ends).
  • Instructors should inform their students (in class, via email, eLearning, class blog, etc.):
    • That online student course feedback surveys are available.
    • That course feedback surveys are an important part of improving the course in the future.
    • That student opinion is valued and has actual material impact at the university.
    • Encourage students to submit their feedback as soon as possible.

What Individual Instructors Can Do

  • Consider asking students to provide course feedback during one of the final class sessions.
  • To ensure high response rates and quality results, please inform students that online course feedback is being conducted and to expect an email from the UES system with instructions and a one-click-link to directly access the feedback form.
  • Students need to know how simple the process is, that it is anonymous, and how important their contribution is.
  • The best response rate and quality comments come from classes where the instructors have taken an interest in the student course feedback process. Indicating interest directly to the students and emphasizing the importance of their feedback results.

How to Monitor Student Course Feedback Progress

Anyone can use CourseBook to check the current status and progress of student course feedback. Here is one easy method that instructors can use to monitor the progress of student feedback for their classes:

  • Access https://coursebook.utdallas.edu
  • Click the MY CLASSES tab.
  • Click the LOGIN TO COURSEBOOK link. This will open the network authentication page.
  • Login using your NetID and password. You will be returned to CourseBook.
  • Click the "Provide Your Feedback Now" link for the class you would like the status on.
  • Classes undergoing student course feedback will have response rate (example below):
The student feedback progress view

How to Determine Who has Participated in Student Course Feedback

Feedback responses are always anonymous; however, participation status is not (similar to the US election system). Therefore, it is possible to see which students have provided their student feedback when the course has at least 5 students who have completed responses.

  • Access https://coursebook.utdallas.edu
  • Click the MY CLASSES tab (login if necessary).
  • Click the CLASS LIST link for the class you would like the status on.
  • If 5 or more students have submitted feedback – the class list will have a 0 or 1 in the EVAL column. 1 indicates that one feedback has been submitted (i.e., the student has participated).
Student participation view