FAQ: Student Course Evaluation Pilot

 For Instructors

How do I view/monitor response rates?

  • Instructors will receive an email November 23rd containing a link to view response rates and will need to use their myUMBC credentials to log in.  You can also view them from in Blackboard under the myBlackboard tab:

 bb_instructor_view

What if I have a cross-listed course?

  • If your class is cross-listed or otherwise is combined with another class, students will see the course section for which they are enrolled, but the reports generated from the survey results will combine the sections. 

When will I receive “blue sheet” feedback?

  • Open ended, “blue sheet” feedback responses submitted online will be provided to instructors via a link in an email from studentcourseevaluations@umbc.edu once all grades have been submitted.  You will need to log in with your UMBC username and password to access “blue sheet” responses.

Can I administer “blue sheets” in class?

  • Yes.  Please let your students know to skip the open ended questions on the online survey if you don’t want them to fill them out. Your department has “blue sheets” that you can distribute in class.

For Students

What is the Online Student Course Evaluation Pilot program?

  • This pilot program is aimed to test a new survey instrument called the SEEQ, as well as to test an online delivery mechanism for student course evaluations.  UMBC has partnered with a company called eXplorance to utilize their product called Blue in order to administer student course evaluations.

What is the SCEQ?

  • The Student Course Evaluation Questionnaire (SCEQ) is a survey instrument that UMBC currently uses (e.g. scantron survey) to gather student feedback about courses offered at UMBC.

What is the SEEQ?

  • The Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ) is a validated, open source, survey instrument used to collect student evaluations of instruction.

Which survey am I taking?  The SCEQ or the SEEQ, and why?

  • To evaluate the effect of changing survey instruments as well as moving from paper to online, students have been randomly assigned to complete either the SCEQ or the SEEQ for their courses included in the online pilot. 

Will my instructor see the responses I give?

  • No.

Why do I have to log in if this is “anonymous?”

  • UMBC students must log in with myUMBC credentials in order to match students with their enrolled courses.  Your responses will remain strictly confidential.

Can I change my answers after I submit?

  • No.  Once you have submitted your answers, you cannot go back to change them. However, you can save your responses at any point and come back later to complete the survey.

How long does it take to complete a survey?

  • It should take approximately 10 – 20 minutes to complete.

How do I access the online course evaluation survey?

  • You can access the survey two different ways–via Blackboard and email.
    • You can log into your Blackboard account, click the myBlackboard tab, and find the block with the heading “Online Student Course Evaluations.”

 bb_student_view

How many instructors are participating in the pilot?

  • Over 100 Tenured Faculty, Professors of the Practice, and Senior Lecturers are participating in this pilot.

How many students will be getting online student course evaluations?

  • Over 5,000 students will be asked to complete the online student course evaluations for one or more of their classes.