Teacher evaluations move to students’ inboxes

As of fall 2011, Roosevelt made the switch to paperless teacher evaluations. The process behind this decision was long and arduous, but was also thought to be more efficient.

James Gandre, provost and vice-president of the University, identified teacher error and environmental concerns as the primary reasons for the change.

"First, all classes were evaluated. In the past some professors would forget to hand out evaluations in their class, and in other cases the completed evaluations were not turned in," Gandre said. "Finally, with no paper needed, this new process is much more eco-friendly."

At least, that was the idea.

"I didn't fill out the evaluations because they kept sending me reminders," said Miranda Young, a criminal justice student, "which was annoying."

However, Young realizes the importance of the evaluations.

"I like the evaluations and don't think they're pointless," she said. "When I worked in the math and actuarial sciences department, I had to sort the teacher evaluations and type out feedback for each class and section, so I know that teachers actually get the feedback, and either choose to read it or not."

Others students felt that by putting the evaluation online, it was optional. The option was usually answered by "no," or answered by students who harbored strong grievances rather than constructive criticism or compliments towards their class.

"I liked the class, I just didn't feel strongly enough to fill [the evaluation] out," Darius Taylor said. "Who even reads it?"

Some students and faculty have inaccurately assumed the evaluations are now being outsourced to countries like India.

Currently, the processing of Roosevelt's class evaluations is, and has always been, outsourced to Educational Teaching Service. The ETS is the world's largest nonprofit testing and assessment organization, which is based in the United States.

Though most students wouldn't recognize the acronym, they've most likely encountered their products. The company creates, administers and processes SAT tests, Graduate Record Examinations and the Test of English as a Foreign Language.