By this point in the year, every student at NC State is well aware of the persistent and not-so-clever ClassEval emails.
Unless you have neglected to check your email for the past week and a half, the end-of-the-semester professor and course review system has been inescapable with its constant reminders to fill out the evaluations.
Although the corny subject lines make it difficult to take seriously, it is an important part of the end of the semester.
Hopefully, most students can agree that ClassEval is a valuable tool. Giving honest opinions regarding the experiences a student has had with a professor and specific course material can be very beneficial for the university as a whole.
Typically, students are adamant about filling out their evaluations when they have had a particularly frustrating experience in a course.
Kelly McLendon, a sophomore studying nutrition science shares the feeling and said, “I’ve had professors in the past who have been really unhelpful and have been the cause of a lot of unneeded stress throughout a semester from not teaching clearly or not giving useful feedback. When that happens, I absolutely fill out class evaluations and honestly state the problems I had with them.”
However, students will less frequently fill out evaluations for professors who have done a great job. After all, it is easier to find faults in professors or courses than to recognize their value. It is more fun to bash than to point out positives.
Despite this, there is undeniable importance in praising professors who have truly done their job well and have helped students succeed.
Most students have had experience with at least one professor who has stood out as an effective teacher who consistently influences students for the better. These professors make all the difference not only for a semester, but for an entire college education.
It is not uncommon for a professor to inspire a student to change majors because of the way a subject is presented. A required course that might not be particularly exciting can be bearable and even enjoyable when a professor’s passion is obvious, and it is clear he or she cares.
More emphasis should be placed on acknowledging these outstanding professors and affirming them in their work, specifically through ClassEvals.
This is important not only because professors who are doing an incredible job should be aware of what they are doing right, but also because evaluations are used in the consideration of promotions and increases in salary.
Additionally, when professors are being considered for tenure, student evaluations, among other factors, are referred to. The evaluations aren’t just being filed away without any real purpose—they have the potential to make a difference in a professor’s promotion.
The emails may be ridiculously annoying and the evaluations are one more thing to do during the busiest time of the semester, but they really can make a difference and can serve as a way to give back to professors who are noteworthy.
Make time not only to constructively criticize those professors and courses that have done little to help in the furthering of your education, but also to praise those who have made a difference in your semester and perhaps even your life.
