Back See this section in context: Criterion 5 Core Component 5D

5D.1: Evaluation of Services Involves Students

Sauk has several mechanisms by which students may participate in various evaluation processes:

Student Evaluation of Courses:

Sauk has an established system of classroom course evaluations, asking students to complete a two-page rating survey with space for comments. Protocol requires that the teacher be absent from the room, that inter-office mailing of the surveys to the Vice President of Academics be handled by a student, and that the forms be held in that office until after the posting of final semester grades. The surveys are then returned to faculty so they can make any necessary instructional changes. No use is made of questions regarding technology, classroom environment, or curriculum relevance. At the time of the self-study, there is no similar mechanism in place for any online courses except for those in the NIOIN program; however, a task force of faculty has begun the process of developing an evaluation process for online courses.

Institutional Surveys:

Sauk periodically conducts institution-level surveys for the purposes of gathering data from students or graduates:

• Graduate Follow-up Survey: For over 20 years, Sauk has regularly surveyed transfer-degree graduates, asking them to rate their perceptions of the quality of the institution and report whether they have transferred or entered the workforce. The survey, which consistently revealed graduates’ high level of satisfaction with Sauk, had little impact on operations and was discontinued in 2008.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Survey: The ICCB requires colleges to survey graduates from specified CTE programs each spring. The ICCB compiles the submitted data and provides comparison data to Sauk to use in the related program reviews. The number of graduates from any particular program has generally been too low to make these results an effective measure.
• Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI): During the spring 2010 semester, nearly 300 students from high enrollment classes, such as English and Psychology, completed the SSI inventory. Although students rated Sauk positively in numerous categories, attention is being given to the areas that need to be improved, with some action plans specifically identified in Operational Plans. Ideally, the SSI should be administered every two to three years, but due to budget constraints, it is planned to be repeated in four years.
• Scheduling survey: In January 2007, the college conducted a student survey designed to determine the types of class schedules that were most preferred by students and to answer questions about a number of other scheduling-related issues. A key finding was that students preferred a class schedule where they could attend Monday through Thursday and eliminate coming to campus on Fridays. This change was phased in as discipline-specific teaching and learning issues were addressed and resolved and was fully implemented in FY11.

Focused Surveys:

At the time of a program review or in association with special projects, student surveys may be conducted to gather qualitative or quantitative data. Other types of student feedback are regularly collected in association with campus activities. Here is a sampling:

• Classroom: When asked to identify the classroom evaluations they conduct, about a half-dozen instructors reported that they survey their students about specific units or classroom issues. These range from formative assessments to gauge comprehension of material to formal evaluations of course content or practices.
• Activity feedback: The Student Services staff regularly survey participants in department programs, including students involved in Orientation (PSY 100), loan counseling, and special needs. All student athletes are surveyed regarding their expectations and goals for coming to Sauk at entry and again at exit to determine if their goals and expectations were met.
• Outreach programs: Student surveys provide the primary feedback from participants for the outreach units of the college. PPD course participants complete surveys to evaluate presenters and provide ideas for new classes. High school students participating in any of the events sponsored by the High School Relations Office, such as Discover Sauk visits, are asked for feedback to guide program improvement. Adult Education has recently added a student evaluation form to its array of student interactions.