Increasing Student Evaluation Response Rates & Quality

Increasing Student Evaluation Response Rates & Quality

Response rates are solely dependent on students and their willingness to complete Online Course Evaluations. For this reason, we suggest that instructors take the following steps to encourage students to participate in course evaluations:

• Inform students about the purpose of evaluations: Students are more likely to respond to the evaluations once they understand that their input is important. You could achieve this by giving students examples of how student feedback has improved courses in the past.

• Explain how the University uses evaluations: Students are often unwilling to complete course evaluations because they do not realize that evaluations will be reviewed by department chairs and influence promotions, teaching awards, and tenure committees campus-wide. By informing students of the influence their evaluations have in the University’s personnel decision-making, instructors can encourage students consider evaluations more seriously.

• Demonstrate how YOU use evaluations: If you explain to students how previous feedback from evaluations has allowed you to improve your teaching abilities, students will be more likely to complete course evaluations and thus increase response rates.

• Correct timing and Reminders: Begin to ask students to complete evaluations as soon as the cycle opens near the end of the semester. Continue to remind students throughout the period of evaluations. Course Evaluations will remind students through email, but it is more effective for the instructor to remind students directly.

• Detail the kind of feedback that is most useful: This can not only increase response rates but also enhance the quality of responses. If you list out several points you would appreciate feedback on, this may motivate the student to give an opinion on the topic, or provide them with a framework once they begin to fill out the evaluation forms.

• Follow-up with non-responders: Remember that you are able to see the response rate updated on a daily basis, once the evaluations are open. Keep checking in with the system until you have reached a response rate you are satisfied with. Keep reminding and motivating students to complete evaluations until you have reached this point.

• Set class time to show students how to complete evaluations: Taking a few minutes out of class to show students how to find and use the Course Evaluations system may increase response rates. While there are instructions to help students complete the course evaluations in emails they receive, do not assume all students can navigate the system easily. A quick, visual tutorial in-class can make a difference. Also, setting time aside for students to fill out the evaluations is an effective way of increasing response rates.

For a more detailed guide to increasing response rates, view Increase Response Rate and Quality.