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System is Closed for Student Submissions.

FAQ

Esci Quarterly Schedule

Note: Summer Sessions courses are evaluated on a shorter, rolling schedule based on session.

Weeks 1-4

  • Prepare database and online system
  • Update departmental questionaires
  • Send emails to departments to update curriculum data in STAR system

Weeks 5-6

  • Survey Request Form open for departments to complete
  • Send emails to departments to verify requested surveys

Weeks 7-8

  • Load surveys and registrar data into system
  • Send emails to instructors to verify department-requested surveys

Weeks 9-10

  • Online surveys open, no changes possible
  • Send emails to students and instructors announcing system is open
  • Send periodic email reminders to students and instructors

Between Quarters

  • Compile evaluation data
  • Distribute evaluation reports (after grades are submitted)

FOR STUDENTS

  • Is the ESCI survey anonymous?
    Yes, all ESCI surveys are anonymous. Your UCSBnetID is stripped from your responses when you submit a questionnaire, and there is no way to connect your identifying information to a particular response. The online survey delivery system is completely independent of the survey database and processing system. In addition, once the surveys are processed the database is scrubbed of all data the following quarter.
     
  • Can my instructors see my responses while the survey is live?
    Instructors can only access survey response rates (i.e. how many students have responded) but not who has responded or their responses.
     
  • When do instructors see student responses to the course evaluation?
    After grades are submitted instructors receive a summarized report of anonymized student feedback.
     
  • How do I get the ESCI email and GauchoSpace reminders to stop?
    Students receive GauchoSpace announcements and emails in Weeks 9-10 of the quarter until they complete their surveys. NOTE: Summer evaluations and emails are sent on a rolling schedule based on session.
    • Week 9 - Opening notice with instructions; reminder 4 days later 
    • Week 10 - Reminder every 2 days
       
  • How much time do I have to complete each questionnaire?
    You have one hour from the time you start an individual ESCI questionnaire until you are timed out.
     
  • I completed my assigned surveys, but Gauchospace says I still have surveys to complete!
    It may take a few hours for your GauchoSpace dashboard notification to disappear after completing your ESCI surveys.
     
  • What do I do if I submitted a survey for the wrong instructor or TA?
    Please contact the ESCI helpdesk to remove your submission from the database. Be aware that your identity will have been stripped from your responses when you clicked submit, so we will need additional information from you.
     
  • How do I prove that I completed a particular survey?
    While an ESCI session is live and accepting student responses, you can screenshot or print your crossed out list of assigned surveys for your records. After each ESCI session closes, the system is wiped clean of all student records to protect anonymity.
     
  • I am having trouble connecting to campus Wifi to submit my surveys, Help!
    Due to power outages and technical issues, your building's wifi may have technical issues. The UCSB campus IT website provides a list of campus locations with supported campus WiFi access.
     
  • I disagree with a survey's wording, phrasing, or bias -- whom can I notify?
    Each department chooses or writes the questions for their departmental surveys, sometimes in conjunction with Instructional Development. You should contact your Department on issues you have regarding any questions' wording.
     
  • I am a UCSB Extension/PACE student enrolled in a course, can I use this system?
    At this time you will likely not be able to access the ESCI Survey system. Due to technical difficulties that we are attempting to remedy, only registered UCSB students can access the system at this time.

FOR FACULTY

  • How often am I reminded via email about the course evaluation surveys?
    You will receive 5 automated emails about your surveys in Weeks 7-10 of the quarter, as follows:

    • Week 7 - a list of your courses that will, and will not, be evaluated.
    • Week 8 - a preview of your course questionnaire(s).
    • Week 9 - instructions for checking and improving survey response rates.
    • Week 10 beginning - reminder with same instructions.
    • Week 10 end - final response rate statistics and information about report distribution.
    • NOTE: Summer evaluations and emails are sent for one week on a rolling schedule based on session timing.
       
  • How often are students reminded to complete their surveys?
    Students receive GauchoSpace announcements and emails in Weeks 9-10 of the quarter until they complete their surveys. NOTE: Summer evaluations and emails are sent on a rolling schedule based on session.
    • Week 9 - Opening notice with instructions; reminder 4 days later 
    • Week 10 - Reminder every 2 days
       
  • How can I check the response rates for my class(es) while the surveys are live?
    After Log-In, click on "Instructor Area" in the menu bar at the top of the web page to check response rates for each class or section.
     
  • How can I increase response rates?
    • Personally invite students to take the ESCI survey via in-class (synchronous) and email announcements. 
    • Explain to students why their feedback is important to you.
    • Provide examples of how constructive and thoughtful student feedback has helped you improve courses in the past.
    • Monitor your class response rate regularly, and subsequently encourage students to complete the survey, if needed.
    • Allow time for students to complete the survey online during class (try at the beginning of class instead of the end).
       
  • When can I view my final survey report?
    Please contact your department ESCI Contact after each quarter’s final grade deadline to access your reports.
     
  • How do I see my course ESCI scores (from this quarter or previous quarters)?
    Please contact your department ESCI Contact after each quarter’s final grade deadline to access your reports. If you need a summary report of all of your ESCI scores from multiple classes and/or quarters, please request a summary report from the ESCI office.

FOR DEPARTMENT STAFF

  • If our department is using ESCI Online, do we still need to complete the online Survey Request Form every quarter?
    Yes! The Survey Request Form is the only way that we can get accurate data from academic departments about who is teaching each class or section, whether that class or section should be surveyed, and if so, which survey to use. Without this information from the department, we do not have all of the information that we need to set the system up correctly for the end of the quarter. Your help is essential!
     
  • What do we do if we want to update the questions on the departmental questionnaires?
    Contact the ESCI office directly to discuss your needs with one of our Instructional Consultants.

Last Updated: June 03, 2021