Tips for Faculty

Please click on the + plus signs below to expand and contract the different areas of SFI Tips for Faculty. If you have any questions please email: sfi@uml.edu.

Did you know that response rates are generally higher when faculty actively promote and discuss course evaluations with their students? Instructors can influence response rates by:

  • Mentioning evaluations to students as soon as surveys open
  • Informing students about the purpose of evaluations
  • Explaining how you use their feedback
  • Providing some specific examples of useful feedback, and how you have improved the course/pedagogy in response

In advance (optional, but advised):

  • Note the active dates of upcoming surveys on the Student Feedback on Instruction page.
  • Choose a class meeting date (in person or synchronous remote) when you’d like to have students complete their evaluations.
  • Announce the date to students in class (and in your Blackboard notices or via email).
    • Let students know that your class is part of the online feedback system.
    • Indicate why evaluations are important to you, and how you will use student feedback.
    • Remind students to bring an internet-connected device (mobile, laptop, etc.) with them to class on the day you’ve indicated. (Students can also borrow loaner laptops —they can request those in advance via email to: Academic_Affairs@uml.edu—or share devices as needed to complete the survey.)

On the day when you’d like to have students complete the survey:

  • Set aside 10-15 minutes at the beginning (recommended) of class for evaluations.
  • Optionally, invite students to review the course goals and outcomes on your syllabus.
  • Remind them why their constructive input is valuable to you.
  • Navigate to www.uml.edu/sfi. Project the URL on screen or write it on the board.
  • Have students select “Login to Course Evaluations” and use their UML email credentials to enter; a list of surveys currently available to them will appear on their home page.
  • Have them choose your course survey from their list; confirm that they are able to access the survey.
  • Step out of the room for about 10 minutes to allow students privacy to complete the survey.
  • Thank them for their feedback.!

That’s all! Results will be available to you roughly two weeks after the end of the term. Questions? Email: sfi@uml.edu.

  • Note the active dates of upcoming surveys and links to the main Student Feedback on Instruction page.
  • Let students know that your class is part of the online feedback system.
  • Indicate why evaluations are important to you, and how you will use student feedback.
  • Use a course announcement to remind students of the survey dates and send a second reminder as the deadline nears.
  • Mention student feedback on instruction during chat (optional).
  • Remind students that surveys cannot be completed after the deadline.

Sample Announcement: 

"Dear Students, 

"Please complete the feedback survey on this course before the deadline on . Log in directly with your email credentials by visiting www.uml.edu/sfi, or follow the personal link that was sent to your email. I use student feedback to help improve my course each semester, so I really want to hear from you."

That’s all! Results will be available to you roughly two weeks after the end of the term. 

Questions? 

Email sfi@uml.edu.

Did you know that both the automated e-mail messages you receive during an active SFI survey period and your own SFI dashboard provide a count of completed surveys, and the percentage of completed/expected surveys?  Your dashboard is updated every hour during the survey period. 

While some students are intrinsically motivated to complete surveys or respond to your requests, some students will respond to even minor extrinsic motivations.  One of the simplest ways to increase responses is to offer the whole class a reward once a certain percentage has filled out the survey.  

Select a reward that is interesting to students, but not so valuable that it could be considered coercive. 

For example: 

  • If 85% of you complete the course survey by May 5, everyone gets 3 bonus points on the final, or 
  • If 85% of you complete the course survey by May 5, I will drop everyone’s single lowest homework grade. 

Since the reward is based on group effort, no individual is singled out. Everyone has the same opportunity to benefit.  These rewards would be attractive to students who need every possible point as well as to highly motivated students. 

Another approach (best suited to 15-week sessions) that also serves as a reminder is to offer smaller rewards in stages. For example: 

  • If 50% complete the survey by the end of Week 1, then 1 bonus point (toward final project, toward final grade or other)  
  • If 70% by Week 2 then add another point 
  • If 90% by Week 3 then one more point 

This encourages steady participation over time and gives the class multiple chances to reach different milestones. 

Note: Avoid asking students for proof of completion, as this may damage their sense of trust in the anonymity of the survey.