Student feedback policy

Policy

Intent and objectives

1. To monitor and improve the quality of the student learning experience through the collection, use and reporting of student feedback about teaching and the learning environment.

Addressed in this policy are the use of RMIT surveys and other feedback mechanisms to support improved practice at the course and program level

2. To link student feedback with the development of improvement plans and so recognise, support and extend good practice.

3. To celebrate success and good practice.

The objectives of this policy are:

1. Enhancing the student experience through the systematic collection and analysis of student feedback as a basis for improvement activities.

2. Recognising and sustaining good practice by providing data to assist staff in improving professional practice and the scholarship of teaching and to inform the development of processes which recognise and reward good teaching.

3. Enhancing the student experience by providing students with the opportunity to actively participate in the continual improvement of their program and courses via a range of feedback methods.

4. Ensuring the provision of information to students regarding the purpose and outcomes of student feedback collected over time, including actions taken to address concerns raised in student feedback.

Scope

All RMIT award programs

Exclusions

There are no exclusions. Offshore student feedback and feedback systems are covered by this policy.

Policy provisions

1. General

a) Student Feedback is a component of program evaluation which should also take account of feedback from graduates, industry partners, professions, academic peers and analysis of student assessment.

b) Feedback processes will be systematic, rigorous and respectful of the rights of students and staff and incorporate strategies to maximise student participation.

c) A range of feedback mechanisms including surveys, focus groups, comments, Student-Staff Consultative Committees and other participatory activities will be employed.

d) Where programs are delivered in partnership with other organisations, the agreement or memorandum governing that partnership will stipulate that adherence to RMIT academic and quality assurance policies apply.

e) All students should have the opportunity to provide feedback.

2. Collecting feedback

a) Course Feedback

i) Staff will seek student feedback in a form which can be captured, analysed and reported every time a course is delivered. It is expected that the standard RMIT course survey will be administered annually for every course with current enrolments.

    • In the case of TAFE, provision exists for the survey to be flexibly administered depending on the number and nature of courses delivered in each program. This includes selecting groups of students within a course to ensure a reasonable cross-section of students are surveyed in any given year. It also allows for multiple courses delivered in a teaching class to be surveyed as a single course.
    • Where the survey instrument is inappropriate for specific delivery modes (eg non-classroom based) or the needs of specific student cohorts (eg ESL students) alternative student feedback mechanisms should be deployed.

ii) A set of core questions will form the basis of a survey deployed to evaluate teaching and learning in all RMIT courses systematically.

b) Program Feedback

i) All students will have the opportunity to provide program level feedback.

ii) Formal program level surveying will be conducted in accordance with an annual schedule.

iii) Program level surveying will include questions regarding students’ experience of teaching and learning together with questions relating to the broader university experience.

iv) All coursework programs will establish and appropriately resource Student-Staff Consultative Committees.

c) Local Feedback Mechanisms

i) Other forms of feedback may be collected to inform local improvement planning activities.

3. Using feedback

a).General

i) All staff at RMIT will engage with and respond to student feedback as part of the continual improvement of the student learning experience and undertake improvement planning on an annual basis.

ii) Student Feedback will be used by academic staff and their supervisors as part of the process of evaluating and enhancing teaching effectiveness and to inform promotion and probation decisions.

iii) Student Feedback will be used:

(1) to improve the quality of programs and courses through the development of annual improvement plans,

(2) to support the scholarship of teaching,

(3) to inform professional development programs,

(4) to enhance program design and the connection of inter-related programs, and

(5) to improve the provision of learning resources, facilities, equipment and services through the development of annual improvement plans.

4. Reporting feedback

a) General

i) All feedback will be reported in a format which ensures that individual respondents cannot be identified.

ii) Students will be informed of the changes made to courses and programs on the basis of feedback.

iii) Staff will be consulted and informed regarding the use and dissemination of student feedback.

iv) Results of course level student surveys aggregated to the school level, and program level student surveys will be made public for the purposes of benchmarking, both internally for the purpose of sharing good practice, between schools and groups across the University and externally with relevant universities.

v) Feedback reports will be distributed to the relevant staff with designated responsibility for improving the student experience and outcomes, including relevant course coordinators, program managers, school Heads/Deans, and Deputy Heads/Deans, discipline Deputy Heads/Deans, PVCs and Deputy PVCs.

vi) Feedback reports on individual staff will not be made public.

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