It's as simple as this--click on your responses to the questions, and then write as much (or as little) as you like about the course.

Why course evaluations are important
We are required to give each student an opportunity to formally evaluate each course taken in the Reading Department, toward the end of the course itself. These evaluations are summarized and given to each instructor, and they are also compiled and used in promotion and tenure decisions. Thirdly, they are used in course planning for future semesters. What you need to know is that we take these evaluations very seriously, and what you share with us about your course experiences does have consequences.

How our course evaluations are carried out
Several years ago, we switched from the bubble-sheets handed out in class to a web-based course evaluation system using SurveyMonkey. Students have told us that they much prefer the new system--it's easy to complete and submit, and can be done quickly without having to enter any course information. From our standpoint, it saves hundreds of hours typing the written comments, and results are available as soon as the evaluations are completed. Your instructor may use one of several approaches to administering the course evaluations (they choose the method best suited to their teaching situation):

1. Computer Laboratory, whole-class. In this approach, your instructor will have you assemble during a scheduled class session at one of the Uinversity's computer labs. You'll be given access to a computer, enter a link to the course evaluation, complete it, and submit it. This is the electronic equivalent of doing the old bubble-sheet in class.

2. Email link--personal. In this approach, you'll receive a personal email that provides you with a link (it's your personal link, no one else has the same one), and once you click on this, it opens up your web browser, and takes you to your course evaluation. You fill it out, and submit it. What's nice about this approach is that you can do this from home. (The software knows if you've submitted the evaluation, and it can be set to remind you to complete and submit the evaluation, but your privacy is still assured--see below).

3. Email link--class. In this approach, you'll receive a link (it's the same link for each student in the class) and once you enter this link in your browser, it takes you to your course evaluation. You fill it out, and submit it. You can do this from home or anywhere. (In this case, the software doesn't know if you've submitted the evaluation, but of course it keeps track of the total number of responses, and general reminders can be sent. Your privacy is assured.

We have to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate a course, and if for any reason you are unable to participate in a scheduled course evaluation, you can contact Linda Papa (LPapa@albany.edu) and either receive a web-link, or, if you prefer, complete the evaluation at a computer in the Reading Office, or complete a hard copy (it will be entered into the computer by one of our secretaries).

Note: Instructors are NOT permitted to be present in the room when course evaluations are being carried out. They are also not allowed access to actual evaluations at any time, and only to summaries after final grades have been posted.

Security, privacy, anonymity
Our electronic system is as secure as we can possibly make it. The links you are given apply only to the specific course you are evaluating. The evaluations themselves are stored on a secure server (SurveyMonkey). Only Linda Papa and Mary Unser (Department Secretaries) have access the the actual evaluations. Faculty receive summaries of the evaluations only after their final grades are posted—these summaries include a tabulation of the numbers (percentages) for each question, and a print-out of the written comments. However, no names are included in these summaries, even if the student writes them in (for example, a student might sign his/her name at the bottom of the written comments--this is removed before sharing the written comments with faculty).

Questions, concerns
If you have a question about the course evaluation process in general or a specific question about evaluating a course you are currently taking, contact Linda Papa (LPapa@albany.edu). If you have a concern about a course evaluation (e.g., you believe you were excluded from evaluating a course, or you have concerns that your anonymity has been compromised), contact the Department Chair. Your query will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. If your query involves the Chair, it will be handled by another senior member of the faculty.