Survey Core Questions
Each survey will contain all ten of these questions. After piloting a new scale for fall 2024 and receiving feedback, the Likert scale will revert back to: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree.
Empowering Student Success Through Student Course Experience Surveys
At the University of South Carolina, we're committed to fostering a dynamic learning environment that allows students to thrive. Student course experience surveys play a critical role in achieving this goal. To this end, the Office of the Provost, in partnership with DoIT and the Faculty Senate, InDev Committee has selected a new survey platform: Explorance Blue. Implementation of this system will occur in three phases.
Phase I
Implementation Phase I will kick off with the tool rolled out to a select pilot group in Fall 2024. Feedback from the pilots will be used to refine processes and future deployment.
- 3 departments and 1 college participated
- 181 courses were part of the fall pilot
- 3,406 surveys sent to students with a 50.3% response rate
- Departments recognized an average of 21.86% increase in response rate over Fall 2023
- 31 of the 181 courses utilized the instructor-optional questions
- 2 reports were published and distributed to faculty and staff; 1 additional report is under review
Phase II
In Phase II, a broader deployment will take place in Spring 2025, incorporating lessons learned from the Fall 2024.
- In addition to the participants of the fall pilot, 2 comprehensive campuses, 1 college, 3 schools, 3 departments, and 1 program participated in the spring pilot
- Townhalls were scheduled for faculty for an overall of Explorance Blue
- Provost’s Office planned a Course Survey Week to promote Explorance Blue and course surveys
- Spring pilot reverted the Likert scale on most questions back to: (Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly Agree)
- Over 56,000 surveys were successfully deployed for the Spring 2025
Phase III
Summer 2025
The university aims for full implementation in Summer 2025, with Explorance Blue becoming the standard for course evaluations.
Summer 2025 will be the final pilot for Explorance Blue implementation. Faculty will be covered under the October 2024 memo from Provost Arnett. Academic units may continue to use Class Climate but are highly encouraged to join the pilot as there is additional support resources for the transition.
Fall 2025
The pilot will be completed by the end of Phase III. Explorance Blue will be the standard for course evaluations. Class Climate will only be accessible for data extraction.
Departmental Questions
The Course Evaluation Tool Governance Committee has voted to allow academic units to add three additional questions to the survey. Academic units may have more than one set of questions depending on class type, subject, or other factor, but only three questions can be added to the Student Course Experience Survey.
For example, a college may want three sets of departmental questions, one set for face-to-face classes, one set for online classes, and the final set for the capstone course. Each set may have three questions but only one set may be applied to specific survey. A capstone course that meets face-to-face could only have one of the sets of questions.
Academic unit survey coordinators with any questions may contact Michael Philipp (philipmg@mailbox.sc.edu).
Optional Question Bank
Instructors will have the option to add two additional questions from this bank. The Course Evaluation Tool Governance Committee has voted to continue to allow instructors to select up to two additional questions from the question bank based on feedback from the Faculty Townhalls and other stakeholders. The committee will review the question bank question and add additional question for the fall term.
Honors Block Questions
These are the questions that will appear on every survey of an Honors course.
InDev Tips for Increasing Response Rates [pdf]
The InDev committee has created a resource to help faculty encourage stuents to complete student course experience surveys.
Gaining Valuable Insights, Together
These surveys offer a unique opportunity to understand your students’ learning experiences. Their feedback allows you to:
- Sharpen your focus: Identify areas where your course can reach new heights, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need.
- Amplify student voices: Hear directly from your students about their challenges and successes, fostering a sense of collaboration and shared purpose.
- Measure the impact: Assess the effectiveness of your teaching methods and curriculum, ensuring they are optimally aligned with student learning outcomes.
Transforming Feedback into Action
Student course experience surveys are more than just data points; they're a catalyst for positive change. By analyzing the results, you can:
- Refine your strategies: Implement data-driven adjustments to your teaching methods, making your courses even more engaging and effective.
- Celebrate together: Showcase the positive impact your course has on student satisfaction and development, fostering a sense of shared accomplishment.
Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Your participation in student course experience surveys demonstrates your commitment to student success. By working together, we can create a learning environment that is not only meaningful, but also continuously evolving to meet the needs of our students.