Course Evaluations
Course evaluations provide students with an opportunity to evaluate their learning experiences in courses at Austin Peay. By completing these evaluations, students are helping Austin Peay improve its courses for current and future APSU students. Course evaluations at APSU are conducted through Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys. Please see below for specific information and resources on course evaluations for students as well as faculty and staff.
If you have questions about course evaluations, please contact Brandi Bickham at bickhamb@apsu.edu or by phone at (931) 221-6244.
How do I access my course evaluations?
Unique and individual links to evaluations for each of your courses can be found in D2L. Students will also receive an email when course evaluations are available.
How long do I have to complete my course evaluations?
Course evaluations open two weeks prior to the end of the term and close on the last day of the term.
Are my responses confidential?
Yes, your identify is kept private and your instructor will not see the results of your evaluation until grades are finalized for your course. No identifying information is ever directly connected to the feedback you submit and instructors only see a summary of the results after final grades are submitted. Also, if less than 5 students are enrolled in the course or less than 5 evaluations are submitted, instructors do not see results.
Why does it matter if I complete course evaluations?
We encourage you to be honest and specific in your course evaluations, but also constructive. helpful feedback goes beyond just venting - it tells us what worked, what didn't, and what could make the course better. Thoughtful suggestions make the biggest difference! Here are some ways that course evaluations matter:
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- Departments can use your feedback to enhance course design and materials.
- Your responses can help instructors reflect on their teaching.
- Your voice helps shape future learning experiences - for yourself and your classmates.
APSU uses Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys to collect end-of-the term instructor and course feedback. The new Watermark CES platform integrates directly with D2L Brightspace. Students will receive an email when their course evaluations are available, which will provide a link to the evaluations and instructions on how to access them. These evaluations will also pop up when students log in to D2L. There are different evaluation instruments for courses designated as lecture, lab and clinical.
Course evaluations will open two weeks prior to the end of term and will close on the last day of the term. Instructors will have access to their evaluations after final grades have been released from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Evaluation Guidelines for Faculty
- Reinforce Constructive Feedback
- Encourage students to be specific and respectful, not just to fill out the form quickly.
- Remind students that thoughtful feedback improves courses and supports teaching development.
- Offer examples of what kind of feedback is useful (e.g., clarity of materials, pace of lectures, support during assignments).
- Give Time in Class (if possible)
- Set aside 5-10 minutes during the last week of class (in-person or Zoom) to let students complete evaluations on their devices.
- Be sure to leave the room or mute yourself to preserve anonymity.
- Do Not Make Participation Mandatory
- Encourage completion and give advice on providing useful feedback, but course evaluations must be voluntary.
- Protect Confidentiality
- Never ask students to prove they completed an evaluation.
- Use aggregate data from the evaluation platform, not individual confirmations, to track completion.
Course evaluation reports are available after final grades have been released by the Office of the Registrar. These reports can be accessed through Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys. Resources and tutorials for accessing these reports will be available here soon.
Faculty
To access survey results and feedback, log in to Watermark Course Evaluations and Surveys. Click on the "Results" tab at the top to view results and build reports.
Summer 2025 Evaluation Schedule
| Full Summer | Summer I | Summer II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classes Begin | June 2 | June 2 | July 7 |
| Evaluations Open | July 25 | June 19 | July 25 |
| Evaluations Close | August 8 | July 3 | August 8 |
| Classes End | August 8 | July 3 | August 8 |
| Evaluation Data Available to Faculty | August 15* | July 10* | August 15* |
Fall 2025 Evaluation Schedule
| Full Fall Term | Fall Term A | Fall Term B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classes Begin | August 25 | August 25 | October 22 |
| Evaluations Open | November 28 | October 2 | November 28 |
| Evaluations Close | December 12 | October 16 | December 12 |
| Classes End | December 12 | October 16 | December 12 |
| Evaluation Data Available to Faculty | December 19* | October 23* | December 19* |
*These dates may be impacted by the release of final grades by the Office of the Registrar. Course evaluation reports will not be available until after final grades have been posted.