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End of Course Surveys (ECS)

The goal of conducting end-of-course surveys (ECS) is twofold: it is an opportunity for students to provide feedback to faculty on their learning experiences in the course, and for faculty to assess their course content, structure, and success in supporting student learning. The feedback provided through the end of course surveys will be:

  • used by faculty to adjust and improve their future courses to support student learning
  • electronically-delivered and anonymous (faculty will not know the identity of individual respondents/comments)
  • available to faculty only after grades for the course have been submitted

For Faculty

As approved at the March 16, 2021 faculty meeting, “Every instructor, whether faculty or staff, must administer during class time an End of Course Survey for each class they teach at the end of each semester and share the results with their department chair.” As noted in the Survey Procedure section from the EPAG policy on ECS:

  • Every instructor is required to set aside class time sufficient to complete the ECS. Students should be given at least one class period’s notice that the survey will be taking place. 
  • Surveys must be distributed and collected in a manner that preserves student anonymity, and instructors must not be able to view student responses until class grades have been submitted.
  • Students are permitted to complete the ECS outside of class. They must be able to access the ECS electronically, during a period starting two weeks prior to, and until the last day of classes.

NOTE: End of course surveys are ONLY shared with the faculty teaching the course and their Department Chair/Program Director, and are not included directly in annual faculty evaluations (addenda) OR in faculty reviews (pre-tenure, tenure, promotion, NTT status reviews; see current Faculty Handbook (pdf; Macalester login required) on the Provost’s website.

ECS Technology

Evalkit is the current software that Macalester uses for end of course surveys. If you choose not to use EvalKit for your end of course surveys, alternative surveys must comply with Macalester policies on student anonymity, electronic access, and bias prevention. We highly recommend talking with your department chair prior to choosing this option.

ECS Portal

Request ITS help for customizing your survey, opt out of Evalkit, or find key info like ECS deadlines for the semester, and the text of the default ECS questions. Your Evalkit course surveys will continue to work the same way they have in the past (through Moodle).

ECS Portal

Evalkit Tutorials

A new link to the written and video tutorials on customizing your ECS yourself — how to add custom questions, change the survey start time, and find your results.

Evalkit Tutorials

Other Key Resources for Faculty

For Students

Students will be offered the opportunity to complete an end of course survey (ECS) for EACH COURSE IN WHICH THEY ARE ENROLLED. Note the following expectations (as per the Educational Policy and Governance committee):

  • Students should be given at least one class period’s notice that the survey will be taking place. 
  • Surveys must be distributed and collected in a manner that preserves student anonymity, and instructors must not be able to view student responses until class grades have been submitted.
  • Every instructor is required to set aside class time sufficient to complete the ECS.
  • Students are permitted to complete the ECS outside of class. They must be able to access the ECS electronically, during a period starting two weeks prior to, and until the last day of classes.
  • Your feedback is invaluable to your instructors as they reflect on their teaching and plan for future courses.

If faculty use EvalKit for their ECS, students will begin receiving emails as soon as the survey tool is available to them; they receive three additional email reminders from EvalKit while the survey is open (until it closes on the last day of classes for the semester).