Following years of numerous paper surveys, the course opinion questionnaire that allows students to assess and comment on the quality of their classes has been moved online. This follows a four-department online pilot program that was implemented last year.
Assistant Dean of Institutional Research Nancy Speck said that the full online system is more convenient for both students and faculty. She noted that the paper questionnaires had to be sorted and scanned, while the online data is more easily organized and manipulated. Also, students can complete the survey, which takes five to six minutes, from their dorm room.
“It has certainly made it easier for students to complete [the questionnaire],” Speck said. “Now it does not take time out of class.”
Speck said that the anonymous survey has multiple purposes. Students can use the evaluations to make decisions on courses they want to take, while professors can use specific complaints or suggestions to enhance and adjust their class. Finally, administrators can make tenure and promotion decisions based on the data they collect.
Students believe the change is for the better as well.
“[Online evaluations] seem better to me… The teacher does not want someone who doesn’t want to fill out a course evaluation,” sophomore Gautum Sharma said.
The questionnaire is available at http://rochester.onlinecourseevaluations.com. It runs through Thursday, Dec. 13, which is the last day of classes, upon which students can check the results online.
Wrobel is a member of the class of 2010.
