Policy: Student surveys and evaluations

Purpose

To determine the process to be followed for surveys and evaluations required to be completed by students.

The policy covers the main aspects of student surveys and evaluations conducted within the University.

This policy applies to all students and staff.

Collecting and responding to student surveys and evaluations is an important means of enhancing the quality of teaching, learning and the student experience.
The university gathers and reports on student surveys and evaluations using ethical, systematic and rigorous processes, consistent with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Threshold Standards.
Student surveys and evaluations are used in conjunction with other sources of data to inform education-related decision making.

Make the existence and timing of feedback mechanisms known to students in a timely fashion;
Actively promote surveys to engage students in the feedback process;
Ensure ethical procedures and confidentiality are upheld and regularly assessed;
Maintain all survey data, consistent with relevant legislation;
Maintain a register of approved surveys in Planning and Service Performance Division (PSP); and
Provide information, guidance and support to students and staff in relation to surveys.

Contribute constructive, honest and thoughtful responses to surveys. Survey responses should not be derogatory or vindictive; and
Recognise their important role in contributing to improvements in teaching, learning and the broader student experience.

Encourage students to participate in survey and evaluation processes;
Reflect upon student feedback and actively respond, where possible, to improve the quality of teaching and learning and to provide information, guidance and support to students in enhancing their learning experience;
Maintain their own personal records of survey and evaluations responses, with due regard for the confidentiality of the data; and
Ensure confidentiality and ethical procedures are upheld.

Surveys are approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee, unless used for quality assurance or business intelligence purposes only.
All mechanisms to gather student feedback are conducted in an ethical manner.
Student participation in student surveys and evaluations is voluntary.
Where respondents can be identified through the collection mechanism, unique demographic characteristics, or identifiable content in open-ended comments, survey responses are treated as confidential, consistent with the University’s Prevention of discrimination, harassment and bullying procedure.
Students concerned about an unethical use of survey or evaluations responses may seek advice by writing to the Dean of Students.

Students are made aware of any incentive offered for participating in student surveys and evaluations.
Prizes are issued, consistent with ACT legislation (https://www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au/industry/lotteries/trade-promotions).

The extraction and use of student data for survey populations and administration is protected, consistent with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the University’s Privacy policy.

University Executives, Academic Quality Assurance Committee and its sub-committees, ANU Colleges, teaching staff and service divisions use student feedback as one of the sources of data to:

Teaching staff are encouraged to use student feedback as one of the sources of evidence of teaching quality for the purposes of appointment, promotion and teaching awards.
The use of student surveys and evaluations is consistent with the University’s Privacy policy.

Information	Printable version (PDF)
Title	Student surveys and evaluations
Document Type	Policy
Document Number	ANUP_004601
Version
Purpose	To determine the process followed for surveys and evaluations required to be completed by students.
Audience	Staff, Students
Category	Academic
Topic/ SubTopic	Students - Student and University Experience

Effective Date	2 Jan 2020
Next Review Date	2 Jan 2025

Responsible Officer:	Registrar, Student Administration
Approved By:	Academic Board
Contact Area	Division of Student Administration and Academic Services
Authority:	Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 Privacy Act 1988
Delegations	0
Information generated and received by ANU staff in the course of conducting business on behalf of ANU is a record and should be captured by an authorised recordkeeping system. To learn more about University records and recordkeeping practice at ANU, see ANU recordkeeping and Policy: Records and archives management.