Calla Sandt
Contributing Writer
Nobody passes my classes with a grade higher than a C or D.
What would you do if you walked into a class on the first day of the semester and heard this from your professor? You may hear your classmates say “I’m leaving them a terrible review when the semester is over,” but what does that even mean?
They are talking about the Course Evaluations all ESU students get in their emails at the end of every semester. This seems like a great opportunity for students to use their voice, but students are wondering if ESU actually pays attention to the comments they give.
ESU’s website has links providing the public with information on the types of research done at the school. The Key Metrics of Success provided by ESU state that, “Institutional Research is committed to upholding the values set forth in the University’s Mission Statement.”
When filling out an evaluation, the university is making sure the professors here can keep up with the school’s core values. One of the core values listed in the Mission Statement is: “Through the work of innovative faculty, help to develop a culture of research and scholarship while rethinking the preparation of successful graduates.”
What happens when an evaluation shows that a professor is not following the Mission Statement? Professors can also opt out of student evaluations, meaning some professors never receive feedback from their students. Interviews with ESU students show that there are concerns with the unspoken answer to that question.
Delaney Hibbits, an ESU Junior, says that she fills out reviews of her professors every semester. She even fills out reviews on websites like Rate My Professor, which tend to be similar to the ESU-issued ones students are used to. Hibbits states, “I believe ESU sends out the evaluations because they have to, but they do not truly consider what students have to say. Sometimes the comments are as simple as saying the assignment instructions are always unclear, but ESU continues to brush it aside.”
While current students are finding issues with this system, ESU alumni remember issues they had with course evaluations as well. Gia Rondolet, a recent ESU graduate, shares her opinions on the topic: “I’ve noticed that many of the changes that are suggested aren’t really implemented…some of the suggestions that have been mentioned are things like putting time limits on exams that only allow the student one minute for each question.”
Their statements raise another question: what can ESU do to fix the issue students are having?
Hibbits suggests, “ESU should review all evaluations for existing professors. The reviews range from syllabus critiques to issues with professors. All of these evaluations are helpful in one way or another. If ESU truly cares about students’ academics and their learning abilities, they would review those teaching them.” Other anonymous students said similar things, showing that multiple ESU students are feeling this way about Course Evaluations.
The evaluation form linked on ESU’s website says, “the results will be used to assess and improve instruction,” but when students are saying they feel like the results are being ignored, there may be work ESU needs to do in order for students to feel prepared for success.
