Overview
Central Virginia Community College uses an online course evaluation system, IOTA 360, to gather student feedback on courses and instructors.
For Faculty
Central Virginia Community College uses IOTA 360 to administer course evaluations. Evaluation questions have been prepared and reviewed by faculty and administrators.
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning (OIESP) generates course lists for evaluation directly out of Peoplesoft SIS. Courses are grouped by end date into evaluation sessions. If you believe your course is not being included in the appropriate evaluation session, please contact the OIESP at research@centralvirginia.edu.
Course evaluations open at least two weeks before the last day of classes. Students will receive several automated e-mails with an embedded link from the system. All the student has to do is click the link and fill out the evaluation from a laptop, desktop or mobile device. Additionally, students may access their open course evaluations by using the IOTA 360 - CVCC link found on the My Applications page of MyCVCC after logging in. Instructors will receive an invitation that will allow them to view response rates for any of their courses that have open course evaluations.
Inform students early in the semester about the online course evaluation system, including it in your syllabus as part of the calendar of events and/or as an expectation of students in the course. If they hear that you incorporate their feedback into future courses, they are more likely to complete the evaluation.
Results will be sent directly to faculty members and each division associate vice presidents when exams are over and grades have been completed for all courses. Faculty also may check their results for any semester (spring 2016 - present) using the IOTA 360 - CVCC link found on the My Applications page of MyCVCC after logging in.
For Students
Student feedback is anonymous. All multiple choice questions will only appear in aggregate with other students in your course. Instructors will see the distribution of answers and some summary statistics for each question. Your responses to open-ended questions will appear in full, but will appear alongside the responses of others in your course and your answer cannot be connected to you unless you provide identifying information in your response.
Evaluations will be online and will open at least two weeks before the beginning of exams. You will receive several emails to your CVCC email address (from cs-noreply@iotasolutions.com) with an embedded link. All you have to do is click the link and fill out the evaluation from your laptop, desktop, or mobile device. Additionally, you may access any open course evaluations by using the IOTA 360 - CVCC link found on the My Applications page of MyCVCC after logging in.
The evaluation system closes on the system-provided date at 11:59 p.m.
Process for Conducting Student Evaluation of Course and Instructor Effectiveness
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning (OIESP) assumes responsibility, on behalf of CVCC, for facilitating the course evaluation process. It is the shared responsibility of faculty, staff, and students to contribute to the course evaluation process to ensure its success. The process includes: 1) preparing the online system, 2) conducting the evaluations, 3) disseminating results, 4) reviewing findings, and 5) implementing changes, as needed.
Purpose of Gathering Student Feedback on Courses and Instructors
Student evaluation is one component of an overall course and instructor assessment process. Course evaluations:
provide students an opportunity to share feedback on the course and instructors;
provide instructors with feedback regarding student perceptions of the course and their teaching;
provide CVCC with data to consider in course and curricular quality improvement efforts;
provide CVCC leadership with information regarding student perceptions of courses and instructors; and,
provide data as required within full-time and adjunct faculty evaluation policies.
General Policies and Procedures
All CVCC courses will be evaluated using IOTA360.
Evaluations, unless otherwise requested, will be released to students approximately two weeks prior to the last day of classes.
Students will receive emails from IOTA to encourage evaluation completion. An initial email will be sent when the evaluation period opens, and multiple reminders, as needed, before the evaluation period closes.
Student feedback will be kept confidential, and no information linking identity to responses can be accessed by course instructors. Of note, CVCC’s promise to maintain student confidentiality does not apply when CVCC has a responsibility to act on comments provided, such as reports of violations of the law or CVCC policy, or when comments raise significant safety concerns.
Course instructors should emphasize to students the importance of the evaluations and encourage students to complete the course evaluation. The following are best practices for increasing response rates:
Provide evaluation session dates on the syllabus;
List evaluations as an assignment on the syllabus;
Encourage/mandate time during class for student participation in the evaluation process. Response rates are highest when class time is used. Instructors set aside 15-20 minutes of class time for students to complete the evaluation;
Consider offering incentives for completing evaluations, i.e. extra credit for completing evaluations or for reaching a goal of 80% participation; and,
Send texts and/or social media announcements as reminders in addition to scheduled emails.
Course instructors should monitor response rates by visiting the IOTA 360 portal or reviewing the email updates provided by IOTA 360 (from cs-noreply@iotasolutions.com).
After final grades are submitted to the Registrar’s Office and within one week of the course evaluation period closing, course instructors will receive an email providing a link to access their results. Course instructors can also access their results by visiting the IOTA 360 portal.
Associate Vice Presidents or their designee will download and review student course evaluation results in support of annual faculty evaluation processes.
Related Policy
VCCS 3.6 Faculty Evaluation – “Evaluation data will come from student, supervisor, and self-evaluation sources. Peer evaluation data is strongly encouraged.”
CVCC0085 Evaluation of Adjunct Faculty – “All adjunct faculty are required to administer student evaluations for each course they teach. The results of the student evaluations are tabulated and reported on the Student Course Evaluation Summary. These results are shared with the adjunct faculty member.”
CVCC1021 Full-time Teaching Faculty Development and Evaluation System Model Plan – “The three required data source categories of self-evaluation, student ratings, and supervisor evaluation will be utilized to contribute to the summative rating for each domain.”
Evaluation Forms
Code 2 – Online
Code 8 – Traditional
Code 9 – With Lab
You may request a copy of any of the current evaluation form templates from research@centralvirginia.edu.