Centralized Course Evaluation (CCE) FAQ - Department Chair
In general, how will I be informed of the CCE process and steps I need to take?
Email will be the primary means of communication.
Emails will be sent prior to, during, and after the course evaluation administration period.
All emails will be sent from Provost_CourseEvals@uwstout.edu.
Which vendor is UW-Stout using for the CCE?
Explorance Blue (Blue).
What is my role in the CCE process?
Department chairs are responsible for
- Reviewing their department’s courses slated for an evaluation and the corresponding administration dates
- Emailing Provost_CourseEvals@uwstout.edu to indicate issues with the courses slated for an evaluation
- Opting out department courses that are not to be evaluated, as appropriate
- Informing the PARQ office of administrative assistant personnel changes by emailing Provost_CourseEvals@uwstout.edu.
For detailed directions, see https://kb.uwstout.edu/151733.
Which questions are included in the CCE?
Each department may have up to 12 department specific items.
Which courses are to be evaluated through the CCE process?
All courses offered each term are to be evaluated unless they meet one of the exclusion categories
Which courses are excluded from CCE evaluation?
The following course categories are excluded:
- Non-UW-Stout faculty led Office of International Education courses: TRDIS 477 DRCT and EXCH courses
- Independent study courses
- Honors capstone and contract courses: HON CAP, HON CNRT 001, HON CNRT 002
- Courses with < 16 instructional calendar days in length
- Dual Credit / Concurrent Enrollment
- Military Science and some Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) courses
- Tenured faculty courses not slated for an evaluation during the present term
- Courses determined by the Department Chair to not be appropriate for an evaluation.
How do I determine which of my department courses are slated for an evaluation?
Each term you will receive an email titled Course Evaluations: Department Chair Tasks. The email will provide a link and general directions for how to log into Blue and identify your department’s courses to be evaluated.
For detailed directions, see https://kb.uwstout.edu/151733.
How are course evaluation administration dates determined?
Course evaluations will open after 80% of the course instruction calendar dates have expired, and close after 95%.
How do I determine when course evaluations will be administered?
Within Blue, there is a tile for each of your department courses to be evaluated. By clicking through a tile, the administration Start (i.e., open) and End (i.e., close) dates can be displayed.
For detailed directions, see Centralized Course Evaluation (CCE): Department Chair Tasks Pre-Term.
How do I opt-out department courses that are not to be evaluated this term?
Near the beginning of each term, you will receive an email providing general directions for how to opt-out courses.
For more information and detailed directions, see https://kb.uwstout.edu/151733.
How are students notified when the evaluation for a course opens?
Near the beginning of the term, instructors are to notify students if their course is slated for an evaluation and when. Notification should include mention of this information in course materials.
On the day the course evaluation opens, students will receive an email. Throughout the open administration period, up to 2 reminder emails will be sent to students who have not yet submitted their evaluation.
Instructors will also receive an email the day the course evaluation opens. The email will ask instructors to:
- inform their students that the evaluation is open, and
- show their students how to access the ‘Course Evaluations’ link on the Canvas course navigation bar.
How do students access the course evaluation(s)?
The aforementioned email that students receive will have direct links to the course evaluation(s).
Students can also access course evaluation(s) through the ‘Course Evaluations’ link found on their Canvas course navigation bar.
When can students complete the course evaluations?
Students can complete course evaluations anytime during the open administration period.
For in-person and synchronous online courses, instructors are to provide time for evaluation completion during class, and to notify their students when this will occur.
Can I review response rates during the open administration period?
Yes. Within the Blue website, the tile for each course will automatically update response rates throughout the administration period.
An email will also be sent to department chairs and instructors when course evaluations open, containing directions for response rate review.
For additional information, see https://kb.uwstout.edu/153756.
If responses rates are low, what can instructors do to improve them?
Providing in-class time during in-person and synchronous online classes for course evaluation completion has been identified by Blue as among the best ways to increase response rates. Instructors leaving the room during this time is encouraged, as it may increase students’ sense of confidentiality and decrease risk of bias.
Instructors frequently reviewing their response rates to identify courses with low rates is recommended. For such courses, instructors are asked to remind and encourage their students to complete the evaluation.
When will course evaluation reports be available for review/released?
Reports will be available 12 calendar days after the end of the course.
Who will have automatic access to the CCE completed reports?
Instructors, department chairs and administrative assistants will be provided with direct access to the CCE reports at the time the reports are released.
How can course evaluation reports be accessed?
You will receive an email the day the reports are available, containing a link for accessing department reports.
For more information and detailed directions, see https://kb.uwstout.edu/153766.
Should departments keep a copy of the CCE report?
Yes. Your department administrative assistant will receive an email when reports are available, asking them to download and store all department reports. It is suggested they are stored in an online format, accessible to you.
Who should I contact if I have questions, issues or concerns during the course evaluation process?
Contact the PARQ office by emailing Provost_CourseEvals@uwstout.edu.