Winthrop University has adopted a new approach to end-of-course evaluations. The shift from Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) to Student Evaluations of Learning (SELs) places the focus on what and how students learn.
Student Evaluations of Learning (SELs) are a process that allows students at the end of each semester to reflect on what has and hasn’t helped them learn in a particular course. Students will tell Winthrop why they took the course, what kind of commitment they made to it, and what experiences and content in the course worked best for them as a learner. This information will help Winthrop continue to improve and customize courses, and the SELs let students think and communicate critically about their Winthrop experience.
Three factors are driving the shift from Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) to Student Evaluations of Learning: 1) The old evaluation system focused more on the likability of the professor than on the factors in the course that made them beneficial to students. The results didn't give us the kind of quality information needed to improve classes. 2) Because the questions weren’t relevant to students, fewer students were completing the evaluations, which meant we weren’t getting enough data to be reliable. 3) National studies over the last 20 years have repeatedly shown that SETs are very vulnerable to bias. Almost half of the Winthrop faculty reported receiving biased or inappropriate comments on their SETs. And because every evaluation is reviewed for promotion and tenure consideration, these biased remarks can have a very negative effect on a professor’s career.
A faculty and staff task force reviewed research on SETs and SELs, examined models from peer institutions, and conducted focus groups with students from all four colleges at various stages of their academic careers. Based on this work, the task force developed a common set of SELs designed to support collaboration between students and faculty in enhancing classroom instruction. The new system was piloted in Spring 2025 and will be fully implemented in Fall 2025.
Near the end of the semester, students will receive a Blackboard notification when course evaluations become available. Each evaluation is brief and can be completed on a computer, tablet, or phone. Instructors may provide class time for students to complete their evaluations.
If evaluations are not completed within 48 hours before the deadline, students will be prompted to acknowledge that they have seen the evaluations, even if they choose not to complete them. Faculty will see the overall response rate for their classes, but not the identities of respondents. Anonymous results will be shared with professors after final grades have been submitted.
Student participation in this process truly makes a difference. By sharing their feedback, students and instructors work together to refine teaching approaches and resources, helping the university to provide educational offerings that meet the evolving needs of students.
