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Student Satisfaction
Surveys don’t
just collect dust
Annelise Frederick
Variety Columnist
As majority of college students are aware of, instructors
are encouraged at the end of each semester to
have students fill out those fun little bubble sheets with
predetermined questions about how their teachers instructing
skills, how the class went, if the student would
recommend the class or teacher to another student, so
on and so forth. Instructors are required to leave the
room while students complete the forms, and once finished,
students hand them in, never knowing if any of
the information is even going to get back to professors
at all. Many students assume the evaluations get thrown
into a file and don’t come out until a teacher is up for
tenure or the institution needs them for something.
Beth Domholdt, the Vice-President for Academic
Affairs, helped clear up those rumors. The surveys are
used for several purposes, and the information gathered
from them is compiled and distributed to the respective
teacher, the department Chair, the college Dean and to
Beth Domholdt. The forms themselves don’t get shoved
into a folder in Domholdt’s office to yellow and gather
dust either, they are handed off to the department
Chair along with the summary of the information that
they hold. This information is pulled out again when a
teacher is up for tenure, a change in salary, or a change
in their level as a professor at the college. Student feedback
is only one indicator.
The forms were generated three years ago when the
powers that be decided that there should be a new way
to evaluate teachers; subsequently a taskforce was created
to determine a new way to do so. The new system
gives the option of not only the tried and true method
of the pencil and paper survey, but also the online survey
component.
The online survey is useful for students at the extended
and online campuses of CSS and allows the school to
save trees, but teachers on the main Duluth campus can
still opt for the paper survey if they prefer it. There are
pros and cons to both sides, particularly that the online
surveys result in less people responding, but a plus
being there is a space for students to write comments.
The paper surveys do not have a space for comments
(a common misconception among students), but more
students fill them out.
How do students submit comments to their teachers
if they like how they’re teaching or if something just
isn’t working for them? There’s always the classic tell
the teacher themselves, face to face or with a note in
their box or an email. Students also have the option of
relaying comments, suggestions, and complaints to the
respective Department Chair. A student can even speak
with the Department Dean and then the Academic VP
in T2111. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions;
the institution may have the opportunity to grow
from constructive criticism.
Another popular student-Professor “Evaluation”
model for students by students is RateMyProfessors.
com. The site is not an official school evaluation point,
but it is possible for your professors and school administrators
to check it out and see what students have to
say about their professors. Domholdt, says she looks at
it only to get a quick rundown. It is an anonymous site
and as the children of the current tech age know, people
can be downright cruel and hurtful or can lie very
easily when they don’t have to show their face. In the
‘overall school rating,’
CSS clocks in at 3.2 with a 3.5 happiness rating out
of 5. The professors average out at 3.45. Keep in mind
that not all CSS professors are on the website. Teachers
can be rated overall in a variety of categories; how you
liked them, helpfulness, clarity, easiness, interest before
having the teacher, textbook usage- you can even give
them a chili pepper for “hotness”.
Except for naming the class you had the teacher
for it’s pretty much anonymous. There’s even a place for
teachers to place rebuttals against any comments students
leave about them. Although it is an interesting
tool, unregulated criticism can breed unconstructive
discussions, and the best way to send professors feedback
is by using the official CSS evaluation surveys.
6
Soul Food
Thomas Miller
Contributing Writer
Opinion
Centennial Cable Trivia Question
Barbara Patten
Contributing Writer
In celebration of the 100 year anniversary of CSS, the Cable is
challenging your knowledge of the college. Can you discover the
answer?
In 1915, how much did a semester of college tuition and board
cost a student?
Email the Cable at cable@css.edu, if you know the answer.
Harold flipped the sizzling patty, and most of the Netherlands slid into the sea. “How’s
the headache?”
Nigel massaged his forehead. “Better. The cognitive interference isn’t nearly as bad now.”
“That’s good.” The ground beef settled out a little as the ice caps turned to slush. “How’re
the wife and kids?”
“Gone by now, probably. But they were doing well, last I checked. Cheryl had just gotten
a new dress.”
“Ah. Well, they might still be around: North America doesn’t go until I get the pickle.”
Harold slid the hissing meat off the range and onto a lightly toasted wheat bun; no sooner
had cow met grain than every nuclear missile and power plant on Earth suffered catastrophic
meltdowns.
“Ah,” Nigel sighed, easing back into his chair and taking a sip of cola. “That’s much better.”
He could feel originality and honesty flowing through every neuron.
Harold mutely laid hand-sliced cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes on the steaming patty, and
the lakes, rivers, and oceans evaporated in an instant, coating the planet in a dense layer
of scalding steam. Nigel glanced out the window as Harold poured out some ketchup and
mustard, smiling himself as the cars rapidly piled up, their owners stumbling out into a hazy
white oblivion; he hadn’t felt this good in years.
The top half of the bun plopped into place just as the first volley of meteors fell.
A serrated knife slid smoothly through the expertly crafted burger, touching the plate a
few milliseconds before every volcano and fault line on the planet tore itself apart, exposing
the Earth’s hot, molten flesh.
The sun exploded and blew away the atmosphere as two toothpicks slid into place, holding
the masterpiece together.
Nigel admired the sight of the ground slipping away into oblivion as Harold fished out a
dill pickle spear, placed it on the plate, and slid the whole thing across the counter.
“Smells amazing.”
“Wait until you taste it.” Harold began putting away his supplies, then idly remarked,
“That’ll be five ninety-five, by the way.”
Nigel ran his hands over his pants, then leaned on the counter, chuckling a little. “Well,
this is awkward.”
“Hm?”
“I left my wallet out in my car.”
Harold glanced at the starry nothingness beyond the glass doors, shrugged, and picked
up the burger. “Your loss.” He took a bite.
And every star in the universe exploded.
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