Remind students to complete course evaluations by Dec. 7 – Marquette Today

Report on Fall 2025 Course Evaluation Initiative and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Initiative Overview

• Subject: Fall 2025 Course Evaluations
• Operational Period: Monday, November 24, through Sunday, December 7
• Primary Objective: To gather student feedback for the continuous improvement of academic programs, ensuring institutional effectiveness and accountability.

Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

This initiative directly supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 by focusing on the enhancement of educational quality. The course evaluation process is a critical mechanism for:

• Ensuring Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education: By providing a structured feedback channel, the system ensures that all students have an opportunity to contribute to the quality assurance processes of their education.
• Improving Learning Outcomes: Data collected from evaluations informs pedagogical adjustments and curriculum development, aiming to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.
• Supporting Educators: Feedback serves as a valuable tool for professional development, contributing to the supply of qualified and effective educators as outlined in SDG Target 4.c.

Supporting SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The administration of course evaluations reinforces the principles of SDG 16 by promoting transparent and accountable academic institutions.

• Fostering Responsive and Inclusive Institutions: The evaluation system institutionalizes a participatory process, ensuring that student voices are integral to academic decision-making and governance.
• Promoting Accountability: This process serves as a measure of accountability for educational delivery, strengthening the institution’s commitment to excellence and responsiveness to its stakeholders.

Procedural Guidelines and Recommendations

To maximize the efficacy of this initiative and its contribution to the SDGs, faculty are advised to undertake the following actions:

1. Inform students of the evaluation period and its importance for institutional improvement.
2. Allocate dedicated class time for students to complete their evaluations. This practice is a proven method for increasing response rates and ensuring a comprehensive dataset for analysis.
3. Utilize the Marquette Online Course Evaluation System (MOCES) for in-class evaluations, following the official institutional guidelines.

Access to Information and Resources

Further information is available through the MOCES website, including:

• The complete course evaluation schedule.
• A sample evaluation form for review.
• Detailed instructions for conducting an in-class evaluation session.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article’s focus on university course evaluations directly relates to SDG 4, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Course evaluations are a key mechanism for monitoring and improving the quality of teaching and learning at the tertiary education level. By providing a structured way for students to give feedback, the university can assess the effectiveness of its educational programs and instructors, which is fundamental to upholding the principles of quality education.

Specific Targets Identified

• Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

  The article discusses a process within a university, a key institution of tertiary education. The implementation of a course evaluation system is a direct effort to maintain and enhance the “quality” component of this target. The system allows the institution to gather data on the student experience, which can be used to refine curricula and teaching methods, thereby ensuring the education provided is of a high standard.

• Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries…

  While the article is not about teacher training directly, course evaluations are an essential tool for faculty development and performance assessment. The feedback collected through the “Marquette Online Course Evaluation System” provides valuable insights into teaching effectiveness. This information helps identify areas where instructors excel and where they may need further development, thus contributing to the goal of maintaining a pool of “qualified teachers” and improving their skills over time.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

• Indicator: Course Evaluation Response Rate

  The article explicitly states that “In-class evaluations are an effective way to increase overall response rate.” The “overall response rate” is a quantifiable indicator. It measures the level of student engagement in the quality assurance process. A higher response rate provides a more representative and reliable dataset for the university to use in its efforts to improve course and teaching quality, thereby serving as a proxy indicator for progress toward quality education.

• Indicator: Existence of a Formalized Quality Assurance System

  The article’s reference to the “Marquette Online Course Evaluation System (MOCES)” and its dedicated website implies the existence of a formal, institutionalized system for quality control. The presence of such a structured mechanism is an indicator that the institution is actively pursuing the goals of SDG 4. It demonstrates a commitment to systematically collecting feedback and using it to enhance the educational experience, which is a core tenet of ensuring quality.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: today.marquette.edu