Course Evaluations

How do I complete my course evaluations?

• On the final Monday of each term, you will receive a direct link in an email to access your course evaluation forms. Depending on the term, evaluations typically stay open for three-four weeks following the opening of the system.
• Shortly before this email is sent, holds will be placed on your grades until your course evaluations are completed. Please note, holds do not apply to registration.
• Once you log in, you will be able to see links to all the evaluations that are ready for you to complete. Please complete an evaluation for each course listed.
• Only those students officially enrolled for credit in a course may complete a course evaluation.  Unfortunately, it is not possible for auditors to submit an online evaluation.
• Students enrolled in yearlong courses are expected to evaluate the whole year rather than just the Spring component of the class. Exception: students enrolled in yearlong courses that were evaluated at the end of the Fall semester should evaluate only the Spring component.

What to consider when providing feedback?

• The feedback should be specific, focused, and respectful. It should also address aspects of the course, the teaching, and your commitment to the learning experience, that are positive as well as those that need improvement.
• Please keep in mind that comments unrelated to teaching effectiveness, student learning and the classroom environment diminish the value of your feedback.

How are course evaluations used at the School?

Course evaluations are used in many ways:

• By course instructors to improve their courses and teaching
• By departments and programs to assess and improve courses and curricula
• By various committees to assess and improve teaching and learning effectiveness
• By teaching assistants to improve their teaching and classroom effectiveness and as part of their teaching portfolio when looking for jobs after graduation
• By your fellow students when selecting courses
• By award committees for selecting the School’s annual teaching award winners

Which courses are evaluated?

• All courses are evaluated except for courses with fewer than 3 students and 300 and 400 level courses (e.g., labs and independent and research study sections). New courses are occasionally evaluated by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning when they are first offered.

Are results anonymous?

• Instructors are unable to see ANY course evaluation information until their grades have been submitted and finalized for the particular course.
• The instructor cannot see any individual course evaluations or connect responses with an individual student. Unless a student self-identifies in the written comments, all responses are anonymous.

Who sees my responses/comments?

• No one can see your individual response.
• Student feedback is viewable by the course instructors, TA’s, the department administrator and staff in the Office of Education.
• Each instructor can see an analysis of the responses from all students who completed the course evaluation.
• Select faculty members and administrators may view more detailed results for courses if they have an educational oversight role at the school (e.g., certain staff in the Office of Education).
• The Office of Education uses the course evaluations as part of regular education reports it provides to departments and program directors.

When will course evaluation results be available?

• Course evaluation results are available three-four weeks after the grade deadline, in order to prevent evaluations from being influenced by grades and vice versa, assuming you have posted your grades.
• Evaluation results are released to instructors a week following the close of the system each term.

Which parts of the course evaluation survey can instructors see?

• Instructors receive a report which details all ratings and feedback for the course, including co-instructors.

Which parts of the course evaluation survey are available to TAs access?

• Teaching Assistants receive a report which details all ratings for the School-wide questions and the quantitative and qualitative responses that apply to them.

Which courses are evaluated?

• All courses are evaluated except for courses with fewer than 3 students and 300 and 400 level courses (e.g., labs and independent and research study sections). New courses are occasionally evaluated by Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning when they are first offered.

Identifying Resources to Improve Your Course

• Please visit the Office of Education’s Teaching Support and Learning Strategies website to identify resources to help improve your course.
• How to make sense of my student evaluations? Helpful resource from the Center for Innovation for Teaching and Learning at Lehigh University.
• The Instructional Design team has a wide range of expertise and interests to support the abilities and curriculum of the School, and can provide consultations. To request a consultation, please contact Sejal Vashi at vashi@hsph.harvard.edu.

If you have any questions about the course evaluation process or if you are experiencing technical difficulties, please contact Jennifer Betancourt at oed@hsph.harvard.edu.

The course evaluation system is administered through the Office of Education and Information Technology offices at the School.