New Student Evaluation of Course and Teaching Procedure

The Course and Teacher Surveys policy suite was last reviewed in 2015. 

An Evaluation of Course and Teaching Review Working Group (Working Group) was established with Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) Teaching & Learning (T&L) as Chair. 

The Working Group membership had a broad representation and provided stakeholders with a voice in the review of the policy suite. Students and staff have been engaged via the Working Group membership; impacted stakeholders have been contacted via email with updates and presentations at the Directors of Teaching and Learning Forum, Student Experience Committee, ITaLI Advisory Committee, Freedom of Speech Assessment Group, Teaching and Learning Committee and Academic Board. 

UQ Legal, UQ Privacy, Academic Policy and Programs and Governance and Risk teams have also been consulted and provided feedback.

1. The issues the new policy suite addresses are:

• over-surveying of students
• ways to encourage teaching feedback beyond SECaTs
• encouraging students to complete SECaTS 
• creating a culture of respectful feedback.

2. The following sections have been added to the Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy:

• 1.0  Purpose and Scope: expanded to include opportunities for student feedback
• 2.1.4  School Reviews
• 2.1.5  Student Evaluations
• 3.0  Roles and Responsibilities:
  • The Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation
  • Planning and Business Intelligence
  • academic staff
  • students.

3. Student Evaluation of Course and Teaching Procedure

The new procedure outlines requirements for SECaT and SETutor surveys, which are designed and delivered to obtain students’ perceptions of their learning experiences at UQ. 

Please note that the survey instruments have not changed while the working party acknowledged a need to review evaluation questions.

The following is a summary of the changes from the recinded PPL 3.30.02 Course and Teacher Survey Procedure: 

• the minimum course enrolment to run a SECaT survey is changing from six (6) to five (5). This means that smaller courses will be eligible for a SECaT survey, as courses with five (5) enrolments will now meet the criteria
• the reportable data threshold for SECaTs will reduce from six (6) to five (5). This means that data will be released (according to data reporting guidelines) when a minimum of five (5) responses are received. This reportable data threshold will apply to both quantitative and qualitative data 
• teaching staff can no longer be evaluated as a lecturer and tutor in the same course. It is recommended that if teaching staff are a lecturer and tutor in the same course, a SECaT survey should be undertaken as SECaT data is recorded in UQs corporate reporting system (Reportal) and feeds through to Individual Activity Profiles (IAPs)
• the introduction of a threshold teaching load means that Lecturers and Associate Lecturers must now teach at least four (4) sessions to be eligible for a teaching SECaT. A ‘Threshold Teaching Load’ means a teaching load carried by an individual teacher with responsibility in a course for 4 or more sessions that: 
  • each covers new material (i.e. not a repeat)
  • includes lectures, tutorials or active learning sessions, or a combination 
  • may or may not include associated assessment.
• a definition of tutor has been introduced, which may exclude staff previously evaluated using SETutor (i.e. demonstrators and peer led learning tutors). ‘Tutor’ means an individual that:
  • has an academic appointment in Workday, an Aurion number and leads classes, tutorials, workshops, labs, practical sessions, problem-based learning, case-based learning, clinical sessions, drop-in sessions, study sessions, or groups online. A Tutor must lead a consistent group of students for at least four sessions.
  • does not include support staff who provide incidental support or technical assistance to students in teaching spaces/labs.
  • it is anticipated that the above requirements will exclude certain teaching support staff including demonstrators and peer led learning Tutors.
• the comment removal request process has changed, with all requests now requiring support from: Head of School, Associate Dean (Academic), and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), before being sent to SSET for action.
• further processes around student feedback, the language scan, closing the feedback loop, and protecting the wellbeing of staff and students have also been included.

4. Assuring Course and Teaching Quality Guidelines

The new guideline explains the different cyclic and intermittent teaching and learning review processes used at the University. It also provides a framework for good practice with measuring and enhancing course and teaching quality. Additionally, it provides information regarding various existing measurement and enhancement methods that go beyond standard student surveys.

By explaining the different mechanisms available to evidence teaching quality, this guideline aims to help University staff build and enhance teaching capacity and practice while also providing robust evidence that satisfies the University’s quality assurance responsibilities.

5. Student Survey Guideline

The new guideline provides information for applicants requesting to administer a new student survey. It details the scope of surveys included and Section 3.1 details who is responsible for approving the student survey based on the span of the students being surveyed.

The ITaLI website hosts a Student Survey Proposal Form (PDF, 157.9 KB). The form is optional and may be used by applicants to outline the details of the survey for approval.

A Student Survey calendar has been created to assist with managing students being oversurveyed. It shows when major student surveys are planned for 2024. Applicants are requested to review the calendar to ensure there are no significant overlaps in survey distributions.