Instagram Combined Shape quotation Created with Sketch. 69

Course Evaluations

SUNY Potsdam facilitates the gathering of student opinion of faculty instruction through CES (Course Evaluations & Surveys). The following course evaluation policies and procedures have been designed to help foster continuous improvements in teaching effectiveness to provide students with the best possible educational experience.

Course Evaluation Policies

A student’s opinion of faculty instruction, gathered through Course evalautions, serves two purposes:

  • Formative, by providing constructive feedback to the course Instructor.
  • Summative, as evidence of their teaching effectiveness.

Per the SUNY Potsdam Faculty Handbook:

In the consideration of instructional faculty for reappointment, promotion and/or other personnel actions, the College will consider effective teaching as the most important variable used for such consideration. Consequently, while faculty should prepare their files to reflect excellence in all areas of the criteria, particular attention should be paid to documenting effectiveness in teaching. Such documentation may consist of student opinions/evaluations of course(s), supervisory evaluations, and/or peer on or off campus evaluations. Each department should have a process appropriate to that particular discipline for measuring effective teaching. With respect to "evidence of excellence in teaching," such supporting documentation as student opinion/evaluation of course(s), peer on or off campus review and statements of professional goals and objectives should be provided. The Office of the Provost has available a student opinion/evaluation of course(s) form for providing such supporting documentation. The College also considers advising to be an important element of teaching.

Course Evaluations through CES:

  • An instructor delivering a course is encouraged to use (but is not required to use) the CES system.
  • These evaluations contain ten Standard Campus Survey (PDF) questions.  In addition, an instructor may optionally add “custom” questions.
  • Gathered evaluations are considered the property of the course instructor (and can’t be accessed by campus administration without permission).
  • A course instructor (i.e. the instructor of record) may access course evaluations only after the final grades for courses are posted (2 weeks after survey closes).
  • Raw survey data (aggregate data) at the school and department levels can be accessed by campus administrators for use in program review and/or accreditation.

How to Request Course Evaluations

The campus provides instructors the option of using the CES online system to gather course feedback using Standard Campus Survey questions and  “custom” questions created by the instructor.  Students and faculty can access surveys using the My Course Evaluations widget found on the Brightspace homepage.

End of Semester

Course evaluations will be automatically created for all courses.  Instructors don’t need to request evaluations and those wishing to opt-out may do so by responding to the “Your Course Evaluations have been Created” email. The timeline for end-of-semester projects is listed below (weeks correspond to weeks before the last day of classes).

  • 4 Weeks: The “Your Course Evaluations have been Created” email is sent to instructors with opt-out instructions.
  • 3 Weeks: The “Your Course Evaluations have been Created” reminder email is sent to instructors with opt-out instructions.
  • 2 Weeks: The “Create Custom Questions” email is sent to instructors. Creating custom questions is optional.
  • 1 Week: Project is “live” and students gain access to surveys.
    • The “Complete your Course Evaluations” email is sent to students.
    • Students receive email reminders every three days until the project ends.
    • Instructors can monitor response rates using the My Course Evaluations widget in Brightspace.
  • Finals: Students receive pop-up notifications in Brightspace.
  • Project End: Course evaluation projects either end on the last day of Finals or the Monday after the last day of classes (for summer and winterim projects).
  • Reports: Instructors gain access to response data two weeks after a project ends.

Mid-Semester

If your courses end sometime before the end of the semester (i.e. within a semester), please fill out the Mid-Semester Course Evaluations form (not required for Summer or Winter Session courses).  A CES project will be created to deliver your evaluation. Courses ending near each other are grouped into a single project. While the timeline below is true in general terms, adjustments are made by the admin to fit the project. Weeks correspond to weeks before the last day of class.

  • 3 Weeks: The Mid-Semester Course Evaluations form must be submitted.
  • 2 Weeks: The “Create Custom Questions” email is sent to instructors. Creating custom questions is optional.
  • 1 Week: Project is “live” and students gain access to surveys.
    • The “Complete your Course Evaluations” email is sent to students.
    • Students receive email reminders every two days until the project ends.
    • Students receive pop-up notifications in Brightspace 2-4 days before the last day of class.
    • Instructors can monitor response rates using the My Course Evaluations widget tool in Brightspace.
  • Project End: Depending on the grouping of courses, a project can end 3-10 days after the last day of class.  Projects are normally set to end at midnight on Mondays.
  • Reports: Instructors gain access to response data two weeks after a project ends.

For training tutorials, please visit the Course Evaluations & Surveys section of Tech Tools and contact cci@potsdam.edu if additional support is needed.

How to Opt-Out of Course Evaluations

A “Your Course Evaluations have been Created” email will be sent to instructors 4 weeks and 3 weeks before the last day of classes. The email will contain a link to the Opt-Out of Course Evaluations form. The form will allow you to opt-out permanently, only for this semester, or report specific courses that should never be included in projects. Regardless, you must opt-out no later than two weeks before the last day of classes or your course WILL BE INCLUDED.

In-Class Course Survey Delivery

Once Course Evaluations are activated, an instructor may choose to have students complete surveys during a scheduled class meeting (please allow at least 15 minutes for completion).  Before leaving the room, the instructor should read and/or display the following directions:

  • Log in to Brightspace, close the CES pop-up window, scroll-down to the My Course Evaluations widget, and select the appropriate link for the course.
  • Answer survey questions to provide your honest opinion of faculty instruction for the course.
  • Take the survey seriously, as responses can help improve the course’s design and delivery (i.e. how the instructor teaches the course).

  • Course evaluations are anonymous and will not be accessible to faculty until final grades are posted.

  • Per campus policy, to ensure students' anonymity, faculty members are never to remain in the room while students are completing the course evaluations.