Student Evaluations of Teaching and Learning at Elon University


When are classes evaluated?
FALL: All Elon faculty members are required to gather student input on the University’s evaluation form in their classes near the end of fall semester. 
WINTER, SPRING,  SUMMER: Faculty members may elect to use the university’s form or their own form at the end of other semesters.  For accreditation or other purposes, some departments require that their faculty members administer evaluation forms every semester.

Why are classes evaluated by students?
Student evaluations of teaching have been used in the United States for the past 40 years.  Students bring a unique perspective to evaluating classes and instruction as they provide feedback on the clarity, pace, and challenge of course materials.  Students can make observations on the learning environment, the quality of interaction with the instructor and whether they have been encouraged to perform at their highest levels.  While instructors may think they understand how students are reacting to their classes, they can benefit from students confirming or contradicting their perceived effectiveness.  Students can also suggest alternate ways of presenting materials that might help a faculty member restructure parts of a course.

Where do student evaluations go and who looks at them?
All evaluations are returned to the Office of Academic Affairs. After the semester is over and grades have been submitted, Instructional Technology runs forms through a SCANTRON machine to tabulate numerical items.  Results for each course are summarized on a sheet of paper.  These sheets, plus original forms with students’ written comments, are sent to the Dean of the school or college where the faculty member’s department is located.  Deans review numerical data and comments and then send data to the faculty member’s department chairperson.  The chair also reviews numerical and written comments and finally makes forms available to individual faculty members who use the data as part of their annual self-evaluation report and to help them improve courses and their teaching.

Note: In spring of 2008, Elon will pilot the online completion of teaching evaluations of selected courses on campus.  Students will complete evaluations during a two week window. This method is projected to both speed the process of delivering feedback and reduce the amount of paper used.  The questions asked and process for evaluating forms will not be changed.  Regardless of when students complete evaluation forms, faculty members will not view them until after the semester ends and grades have been submitted.  No information identifying individual students will be available.

How are Student Evaluations used?
FACULTY MEMBERS use information from student evaluations to adjust the content, focus and organization of their courses and assignments.  When student feedback consistently calls for adjustments, faculty members must address the concerns in their annual self-reports.
DEPARTMENT CHAIRS use information from student evaluations in their written reviews of faculty members’ performance.  Because achieving tenure at Elon requires above average classroom performance, chairs carefully review student comments.  Student feedback is also used in decisions affecting the re-hiring of adjunct faculty members.
DEANS recommend faculty members for tenure and promotion and have responsibility for annual salary increases.  Issues noted consistently in student feedback may result in merits or in unsatisfactory ratings.


Do my comments really matter to Elon?  Do they make a difference?
While Elon values student input, many factors influence the decision to continue employing a faculty member.  Elon’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning works with faculty to help them develop their effectiveness in student engagement and course design. Just as one failed test or one grade of A does not define a student, no single class or set of evaluations can adequately describe a teacher’s potential.  Elon considers a variety of factors in the assessing its faculty members.  We are committed to having a high quality challenging curriculum and a faculty of creative, thorough and thoughtful teacher-scholars.  Student input is critical in helping the institution make appropriate long-range decisions.