Student FAQ

• How do I find the student feedback surveys?

  At the end of each session, an email will be sent to your CSUSM email from courseevals@csusm.edu notifying you that the Student Feedback Surveys are open.  These emails include your unique links to access the evaluations. Reminders are sent regularly for incomplete surveys until the survey period comes to a close.  You can also access your surveys in Cougar Courses or directly through Blue.

• What does the University do with my feedback?

  All the student feedback received for a course is added together in a report that is provided to the Instructor, their Department Chair, and the College.

• Why should I complete the Student Feedback Surveys?

  It is critical that students complete their Student Feedback Surveys for several key reasons. Firstly, it gives students a voice in sharing their perspectives and empowers their learning experiences. This helps future students since professors use constructive feedback to improve their courses. In addition to general improvements, professors often introduce new readings, lessons, and assessments over time; so this feedback helps them learn what is working/not working or ways they can make the course elements more impactful.

  Student Feedback Survey results are also reviewed as part of faculty evaluation. It is important to hear from as many students as possible to ensure that the evaluation is representative of different student voices and perspectives.

• What kind of feedback is most useful?

  Constructive feedback that is specific to aspects of the course (readings, lessons, lectures) is most helpful. The more focused and practical the feedback, the easier it is to implement and make actual changes to the course. Furthermore, research shows that student feedback of courses can be biased based on the demographics of the instructor (such as gender identity, race). This bias most often appears in comments about general feelings about the class or about the instructor’s personality, therefore comments about specific aspects of teaching or the course content itself are the most useful.

• Are the surveys really anonymous?

  Yes. Your responses are completely anonymous, meaning that your responses cannot be tied back to you in the system we use. Instructors receive the results as averages, based on all student responses, as well as a list of student comments. The only exception to your anonymity would be if you provide identifying information in your comments. For example, mentioning your name or describing a specific interaction with your instructor, in which case the instructor could deduce that the comment came from you.

• How can my responses be anonymous if I have to log-in?

  There is an individual password connected to your cougar courses link however the password cannot be tracked back to your individual responses on the surveys. And in turn, cannot be tracked back to your CSUSM login.

• If responses are anonymous, how am I able to receive email reminders that I have not yet completed my course evaluation?

  The reminders are sent from the central student feedback survey system and based on which passwords have and have not been utilized to complete the surveys. These passwords are not connected to your login information or your responses in any way. It only serves as an indicator for response rates. Once you complete your survey, your responses are completely anonymous.

• Will my instructor know if I completed the evaluation?

  The instructor will not know if any specific individual has completed the evaluation. Instructors do receive the total number of responses, without any identifying information, in their final report as well as are able to view response rates when the survey period is open.

• If the instructor does not know whether I complete my survey, how am I able to receive reminders?

  The reminders are sent from the central student feedback survey system and based on which links have and have not been utilized to complete the surveys. 

• Will survey results be available to instructors before grades are posted?

  No. Protocols are taken so that survey results are only released AFTER the faculty member has submitted their final grades. This procedure assures that the student feedback will not have impact on any final grades.

• I keep getting email reminders to complete my surveys. How can I get them to stop?

  Student feedback survey reminder emails are set up to ensure ample opportunity for the student to complete their student feedback surveys, as the feedback collected is very important to the campus. The reminders will be sent out every few days during the survey period until they are completed or until the student feedback survey closing date. Once you have completed the student feedback surveys, either from the Cougar Courses link or the link emailed to you, the reminders will stop.

• What can I do if I missed the student feedback survey deadline?
  Unfortunately, you have missed the opportunity to submit your student feedback survey the class. 
• I do not want to submit feedback for the courses that are on my list. Will I still be able to see my grades?
  You will still be able to see your grades on the official grade posting date even if you do not complete your student feedback surveys. 
• Not all of my courses for student feedback are appearing on my list. Why not?
  Some courses, such as Independent Studies courses, do not receive student feedback surveys due to low enrollment and difficulty ensuring student anonymity.  Therefore, it is possible that not all courses will appear on your list.  If there is a course missing that you believe should have an evaluation feel free to contact the Dean’s Office for the College that offers the course (see question 28 for contact information).
• What if I have two instructors for one course?
  You will receive two separate student feedback surveys, one for each instructor but under the same course.  You will need to respond to both in order to give feedback for both instructors. 
• I have a course that has a lecture and a discussion section. What do I do?
  If you receive two student feedback surveys for course with a lecture and discussion section, please submit both surveys separately. Different forms are used to gather feedback specific to the type of course.   
• Can I modify a student feedback survey that I have already submitted?
  No.  Once submitted, the student feedback survey cannot be edited.   
• I submitted a student feedback survey for the wrong Professor!
  If this issue arises, please contact your College’s Dean’s Office and they will work with the Student Feedback Survey administrator to take appropriate action in assisting you. 
• I’m a new student and I am not familiar with CSUSM’s student feedback survey process. What should I do?
  One suggestion would be to speak with fellow students or your professors about the process.  You may also send inquiries to Course Evaluations (courseevals@csusm.edu) if questions remain. 
• How can I get more help?
  You can always contact the College Dean’s Offices or Course Evaluations (courseevals@csusm.edu) with any questions you have about your course evaluations. 
• I am receiving email notices to complete student feedback surveys for courses which are not in my major, why?
  You will be asked to complete a survey for each course you are enrolled in, whether it is within your major’s field or not.   
• Are all of the student feedback surveys made available at the same time?
  Yes. The only difference in release time is for courses that are offered on a special schedule that ends after either five or eight weeks.  For five week courses, the surveys will be released within one week of the end of the five-week period.  For eight week courses, the surveys will be released within two weeks of the end of the eight-week period.  All other courses will receive their student feedback surveys two weeks prior to finals week.  
• Is it possible to submit a survey for the same course more than once?
  No.  The system is set up so that each student may only submit one survey per course per semester.  
• I do not have time to complete my student feedback survey right now. Will my answers be lost if I stop in the middle of the evaluation?
  No!  The system can save your responses and you may come back to them at a later date.  But remember to click that "submit" button at the end so that your feedback gets submitted once you are done. 
• How can I tell if I have completed all my student feedback surveys?
  You will be able to see in your Blue landing page that all tasks have been completed as there will be checkmarks next to each survey.  In addition, reminder emails will no longer be sent to you as soon as each evaluation is completed.
• There is a course or instructor I don’t recognize in my survey list. What should I do?
  The best thing to do is to contact the Dean’s Office for your respective College and they will work with the Student Feedback Survey administrator to correct the issue.