Course Evaluations
The Office of Institutional Research (IR) is responsible for conducting course evaluations each summer, fall, winter, and spring term.
Note: The IR Office does not specify who will be evaluated or when, or determine the questions on the survey form. See the Policies & Procedures page for more details.
Course evaluation results are used by instructors to improve teaching. In addition, they are a significant component of the performance review process, which includes reviews for tenure and promotion.
- Instructors use feedback from course evaluations to improve their teaching and the overall experience of a course.
- Department chairs use feedback from course evaluations to help instructors improve their teaching and make changes to the course and/or program that is being delivered.
- In many cases, course evaluations provide the only opportunity for students to provide feedback to instructors on how courses might be improved.
All course evaluations are administered electronically. The University utilizes a web-based student end-of-course evaluation system, which is hosted by an off-site vendor known as Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys (formerly known as EvaluationKIT). Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys uses a secure server that ensures the security of all data. The electronic course evaluation system is easy, convenient, secure, and confidential. Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys is integrated into the University’s Canvas course management system, which provides easy access for both instructors and students.
Note: Summer 2024 course evaluation reports are now available. See the Reports page for more details to access reports.
Fall 2024 Course Evaluation Schedules:
| Evaluation Group | Evaluations Open | Evaluations Close | Reports Open |
| Law | October 14 | October 28 | TBD |
| LLM | January 10 | January 20 | TBD |
| Military Cycle 2 | October 28 | November 11 | TBD |
| Science Labs | November 18 | December 12 | December 20 |
| Semester* | November 18 | December 12 | December 20 |
| Trimester - Full Term | November 30 | December 17 | December 20 |
| Trimester - Term A | October 11 | October 21 | December 20 |
| Trimester - Term B | November 30 | December 17 | December 20 |
*Please note the following additional deadlines:
- Fall early evaluation requests are due September 11.
- 2024-2025 comparison groups are due September 13.
Winter 2024 Course Evaluation Schedules:
| Evaluation Group | Evaluations Open | Evaluations Close | Reports Open |
| Law | January 13 | January 27 | TBD |
| Military Cycle 3 | January 20 | February 3 | TBD |
| Wintermester | January 13 | January 17 | January 24 |
Spring 2025 Course Evaluation Schedules:
| Evaluation Group | Evaluations Open | Evaluations Close | Reports Open |
| Law | April 7 | April 21 | TBD |
| LLM | June 13 | June 23 | TBD |
| Military Cycle 4 | April 7 | April 21 | TBD |
| Science Labs | April 14 | May 9 | May 21 |
| Semester* | April 14 | May 9 | May 21 |
| Trimester - Full Term | April 7 | April 24 | April 29 |
| Trimester - Term A | February 14 | February 24 | April 29 |
| Trimester - Term B | April 7 | April 24 | April 29 |
*Please note the following additional deadlines:
- Spring early evaluation requests are due February 5.
Updated 10/25/2024