Teaching Effectiveness Survey

About USF’s Online Survey of Teaching Effectiveness

In the Fall 2010 the University of San Francisco (USF) and the University of San Francisco Faculty Association (USFFA) were asked by the Provost to establish a joint committee to evaluate and recommend a new online system for conducting student evaluations of teaching. The committee was charged with reviewing and assessing both in-house and outsourced options for conducting online teaching evaluations, paying particular attention to effectiveness, feasibility, cost and administrative efficiency. Anticipated to be released for use in the Spring 2015 the Committee created an in-house, fully validated instrument for use as a measure of teaching effectiveness with focus on four related constructs of Instructional Design, Instructional Practices, Student Engagement, and Student Learning in all USF courses. The new instrument, which replaces the paper-based SUMMA, represents a conscious effort to encourage pedagogical improvements through both quantitative and qualitative feedback.

Access to Online Survey

The new online survey of teaching effectiveness runs on the Blue Course Evaluation System by eXplorance. Access to Blue is available through Banner Self-Service and Canvas. Log on with your USFconnect userID and password.

Some Key Benefits

  • The survey is accessible to students on their desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The survey dynamically resizes to fit the pertinent device’s screen.
  • Students may save their responses mid-completion and return to finish later.
  • Complete anonymity for students.
  • Opportunity for students to provide anonymous comments to faculty on each item
  • Support for cross-listed courses.
  • Reports will be available 48 hours after the survey closes and after grades are submitted.