Student Feedback Policy

Approver:: Academic Coordinating Committee
Policy Owner:: Vice-President, Academic
Policy Lead(s):: Director, Institutional Research and Planning
Effective date:: 2009-08-26
Date of last approval:: 2019-11-15
Status:: Under review

Policy Statement

Conestoga recognizes that student feedback is crucial to the successful offering of academic programs. Student feedback shall be considered in any proposed revisions to curricula. The objective of this policy is to ensure that mechanisms are to be provided for students to regularly and openly provide opinions, comments, and advice on the offering and revision of these programs.

Scope

This policy applies to all full-time, part-time/continuing education and apprenticeship programs offered by Conestoga College.

Definitions

Conestoga College maintains a glossary of terms specific to the institution. The ones in use for this document are defined below.

Full-SAT: The Full-SAT was developed in 2014 as part of a multi-college Ministry-funded project. There are 42 standard questions as well as an open-ended comment box.
Program Advisory Committee (PAC): The Program Advisory Committee provides advice on academic program development, review and relevance, changes/trends in business and industry affecting programs, students and graduates, technological implications of changes/trends, employment prospects etc.
Quick-SAT: The Quick-SAT was developed in 2017 as a mechanism for faculty to receive early feedback from students. There are five questions on the Quick-SAT as well as an open-ended comment box.
Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT): Internal online and/or paper college survey completed by all students associated with a faculty/course combination that has been selected for a SAT by the program Chair. SATs occur in the last quarter of a course -typically during the months of November, March and July. SAT is a survey process used for obtaining feedback from students to enhance the performance of teaching at Conestoga.

Policy

Conestoga values the feedback of its students and receives their input in a variety of ways. An important route is daily feedback to faculty during class. Another is through student involvement on subcommittees dealing with a variety of issues including Student Rights and Responsibilities.

In addition, each program will ensure that one or more of the following mechanisms are put into place to allow student feedback, and that this feedback will be considered and incorporated as appropriate into any program revision.

Formal mechanisms for student feedback consist of the following:

Student Appraisal of Teaching (SATs)

The Student Appraisal of Teaching (SAT) allows direct feedback from students on teaching for a particular course. Completion of the SAT form gives teachers and academic managers valuable information to use for improving teaching at Conestoga.

Program Forums

Students will be provided with a forum in which to offer constructive feedback and input to assist faculty and academic administrators to continually improve courses and programs. Program forums will be established at the program level or cluster of similar or related programs. Forums will be conducted on a regular basis and will be open to all students registered in a particular program.

Key Performance Indicators

These provincial quality indicators are conducted on an annual basis for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), and results are made public. This information provides feedback on student satisfaction regarding programs, courses, facilities, and services such as the Library, and Student Services. Programs shall make improvements specific to their areas based on this feedback.

Program Advisory Committees (PACs)

Students participate as resource persons on PACs. Each PAC will include one or two students. PACs representing more than one program should have a minimum of three student representatives.

Student Issues/Concerns

Conestoga recognizes that disputes between members of the college community are bound to occur from time to time. A student who wishes to complain about a situation that does not fall under the academic appeals policy and procedures is encouraged to complete the Student Rights and Responsibilities Reporting form available on the Student Rights and Responsibilities Webpage.

Relevant Legislation and Related Documents

Revision Log

Academic Forum 12/11/2019

Academic Coordinating Committee 01/13/2020