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"A waste of time." "Not worth it." Those are phrases that have been used to describe the Student Ratings of Instruction (SRI) survey.
The end of semester surveys give students the opportunity to evaluate their course experience and the instructor of the course. Currently, it is not mandatory to respond to the survey.
"We want it to be mandatory and in the syllabus for students to complete the SRI Survey," said Shawn Stewart assistant vice chancellor for Institutional Research, Effectiveness, & Planning.
Some students feel that the surveys are time consuming and worthless, but they are actually in place to benefit the student and instructor.
"I don't take the surveys at the end the semester, I think they are a waste of time and don't get read by proper authorities," said Erika Stroughton mass communication senior.
The survey is an indication of different factors in relation to students and faculty.
"The survey measures the level of student satisfaction of instruction of faculty," said Stewart "It also determines faculty promotion, raises, tenure, and is used for faculty development in areas that need improvement."
The current survey system allows comments at the conclusion of the survey, but Stewart hopes that a new system will allow comments after each response below a certain level.
"We're trying to purchase a new online system for fall 2011 that will also include open ended questions, that will allow students to provide additional comments about a faculty member," continued Stewart.
Other gripes about the survey include students being unable to find time to complete the survey.
"I don't have time to do the survey, I think it was better to have it on paper, said junior mass communications major Cedrick Coleman.
The department of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, & Planning decided to end the paper surveys due to the amount of time it took to review the bubble forms. The pilot test of the online surveys in the spring of 2010 garnered a 39% response rate, the rate improved to 48% for fall 2010. However, Stewart is hopeful for a rate significantly higher.
"We want a minimum response rate of 75 percent for future surveys."
Students who are concerned that the surveys may impact their final grades, should not worry. Instructors can't see who completed or did not complete the surveys, they only see a summary of results and the number of students who responded.
"Confidentiality is maintained and a summary of the results of the survey don't go to the instructors until the semester after completion of the survey," continued Stewart.
E-mails with the survey were sent on April 11, students have until May 3 to respond.
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