Electronic Course Evaluations
3. The Task Force recommends the University move to a process of performing Student Course Evaluations using an electronic, web-based tool.The Task Force recommends the University move to a process of performing Student Course Evaluations using an electronic, web-based tool (modeled on the Pharmacy & Health Sciences CourseEval software). Course evaluations should include a small number of standardized questions employed throughout the University, supplemented with discipline- or School-specific questions. An ad hoc committee should develop the University-wide questions, while the department or School specific questions should be the responsibility of those units.
A majority of the survey respondents favored an electronic evaluation mechanism citing its efficiency for data collection and analysis and preservation of class time for instruction. Some mechanism for providing an incentive for students to complete evaluations may be necessary, since spontaneity and the "captive audience" will be lost. Many comments revolved around the standardized questions employed throughout the University, with many seeing a benefit to modest standardization, if discipline-specific questions are also included. All such course evaluation questions should be constructed by faculty or their representatives without explicit input from the administration.