Evaluations: every department has them and most students will complete them, but it is often questioned how much good they actually do. For CSE at least, they do a lot of good. In a recent poll taken by the Daily Nebraskan, 45% of students feel that UNL does not value the feedback given from course evaluations. However, departments rely heavily on these evaluations to provide insight into how effective an instructor or course is and also provides students with a chance to state their opinions. Think of the process as similar to voting. It is the best way to voice your opinion and make a positive change.
Dr. Steve Goddard, the CSE Department Chair, explains the process: "The course evaluations are very important, and we are concerned by the lack of participation from some students. We use the course evaluations in many ways: All evaluations are read by the Personnel Evaluation Committee when they do annual evaluations of faculty, and the course evaluations do play a significant role in the how faculty are evaluated and how raises are allocated. The course evaluations are read each semester by the Assessment Committee, as part of our on-going program evaluation process. As Department Chair, I also monitor the comments for possible problems with instructors or the way a course is being delivered. Finally, all faculty monitor their course evaluations to identify ways in which they can improve course delivery." This investment of time and resources clearly shows the importance of the evaluations and how seriously they are taken.
Fear that your evaluation will effect your grade? Not only are the surveys anonymous, they are not reviewed until after final grades have been published. Unlike most departments who rely on paper evaluations, CSE conducts it's evaluations entirely online, providing insurance of anonymity. Links for the evaluations are available on MyBlackboard and crseval.unl.edu.