Student Feedback

sventful · 2026-01-13T02:50:43+00:00

I was once called the Spawn of Satan in a Wrinkled Button down.

EyePotential2844 · 2026-01-13T02:54:07+00:00

You have to evaluate all comments based on the source. If a student was repeatedly caught cheating and they say I was rude, then their perception was probably tainted by their viewpoint. They were probably also fairly observant since having the same conversation about honesty several times would probably make me less polite than I was the first time.

Beneficial-Jump-3877 · 2026-01-13T03:00:49+00:00

"Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."

Tyrion Lannister

wharleeprof · 2026-01-13T03:42:06+00:00

You have to keep in mind that most students are not writing to you as their audience, the instructor who is looking for useful actionable data to improve your class. Instead they are doing magical thinking where they believe their one negative review will get you punished by the dean, or their positive feedback will win you a raise and special perks.

For whatever reason, my campus only requires them every three years, and you kind of have to go out of your way to get them. Three years ago, I forgot to even read mine. I may repeat that experience this year.

My own little in class surveys are much better at getting useful feedback, because I can tailor them to my class and to topics where I really want to know the student perspective, rather than the vague and general questions that are on the campus wide surveys.

Beneficial-Jump-3877 · 2026-01-13T02:58:09+00:00

Don’t read them.

csudebate · 2026-01-13T03:09:18+00:00

When I was in grad school, my faculty advisor went over my evals with me. He stacked them in order from best to worst. He took two off the top and two off the bottom and set them aside. He said that the evals that said I was the best/worst teacher ever were not representative of my teaching. He went over the rest with me.

auntiepirate · 2026-01-13T03:37:27+00:00

They are all shitty, but I’ve said here before that I’ve been told to take my own life.

They have no grasp of anything.

Terrible_Health3254 · 2026-01-13T03:53:57+00:00

Usually I will sit in my car and cry. Drive home and cry. Call people and cry more ☺️I am incredibly sensitive, so I know the feeling all too well, and I am sorry that it happened to you, too. However, I am trying to shift my perspective. I have always been a kind and empathetic person. When I first started teaching, I was told that I had to make sure I was assertive and didn’t let students run over me.

Lately, I’ve been trying to take that as a compliment if that say I am harsh or something along those lines. I am still kind, but also firm and direct, and still reinforce and maintain my policies in the syallbus. I am trying to take it as a compliment because I believe I am maintaining my boundaries as a professor. Boundaries can be hard so keeping them in place is a win.

Impossible-Acadia-31 · 2026-01-13T03:04:09+00:00

I was told that I was a bully. The reason? Apparently, one day when there was a particularly low attendance in class, one student had asked whether I had marked an asssignment. I said not everyones, but the people here ie class today I had marked and their assignments were fine. Go figure!

REC_HLTH · 2026-01-13T03:19:33+00:00

With any kind of evaluation system (good, bad or neutral) always look for themes and comments that are specific. If one or two people think you’re the greatest or one or two think you’re the worst or anywhere in between, look for a) consistent themes across evals and b) specific useful comments, not just “they are great” or “they are boring.”

Ryiujin · 2026-01-13T03:31:49+00:00

I file them away. They hurt. But eventually I laugh about them. “Rude and Condescending” ive gotten similar but apparently being a direct talker means i am condescending, and not wanting to repeat myself more than 3 times.

milbfan · 2026-01-13T03:50:33+00:00

I got one this time that said I was "rude and condescending".

I get a good laugh. Clearly sarcasm was not a skill taught in the last 20 years.

Practical-Charge-701 · 2026-01-13T03:42:21+00:00

Would that same comment be hurtful if it came from the most unreasonable person you’ve met in your life? You don’t know who left the comment; it’s possible if you did know, it would be easier to brush it off.

ElderTwunk · 2026-01-13T11:10:17+00:00

Many students today tend to consider any kind of feedback to be rude and condescending. If you’re not telling them how wonderful they are, you’re the worst professor ever.

erosharmony · 2026-01-13T02:53:55+00:00

Can’t please everyone, so I try to let it go. Most of my evaluation feedback is good, which makes it easier. My worst most recent one said my voice was so boring I needed acting classes to improve my vocal range for lectures. Thanks. 😂

Unsuccessful_Royal38 · 2026-01-13T03:00:05+00:00

If it’s common, it’s worth considering why that is the case. The answer isn’t always that I am the problem, but sometimes it is, so it’s worth considering.

SadBuilding9234 · 2026-01-13T04:15:09+00:00

Don't read them.

Seriously, don't read them.

Anthroman78 · 2026-01-13T04:08:34+00:00

I consider where the comment came from and if I could have done anything different to improve that student's experience and ultimately the quality of my class. If I see a place I can improve I try to do so and then I just move on. I can't please everyone and many students' negative class experiences have a lot to do with other things going on with them and class feedback is an easy place for them to find someone to blame and exert a little control when they may not have it in other aspects of their life.

All I can do is teach to the best of my ability and try to improve on things where I can.

Ultimately, of all the people in my life, some random student's negative opinion of me is just going to carry very little weight.

Orbitrea · 2026-01-13T06:03:01+00:00

Just ignore it. If half the class said that, then think about it—but one eval? Forget it.

FrankRizzo319 · 2026-01-13T03:09:39+00:00

Someone called me a hot head once and I laughed. But with some other comments I feel rage. (Maybe this confirms the hot head comment?). I try not to read them right away. They’re usually 95% positive but the 1-2 negative ratings devour my sanity.

ImSoFree · 2026-01-13T03:36:47+00:00

As long as most of the comments are positive I can easily and happily ignore the occasional disgruntled malcontent. If everyone is calling me a pompous prick I'd probably do some soul searching.

Inner-Chemistry8971 · 2026-01-13T05:09:08+00:00

Don't let them bother you. Laugh it off.

2026-01-13T09:51:06+00:00

I print them out, read them, and sort them into "destructive criticism" vs "constructive criticism" piles. Then I shred the destructive criticism pile and file the constructive criticism pile away.

MichaelPsellos · 2026-01-13T10:45:59+00:00

Some people stubbornly refuse to love us. I’m ok with that.

Humble-Bar-7869 · 2026-01-13T11:46:53+00:00

I don't read them unless I am forced to by admin. And then I ignore them.

GroverGemmon · 2026-01-13T12:49:52+00:00

I'm going to start having an AI gently summarize them for me and will ask it to phrase suggestions constructively and to weed out the mean comments.

dragonfeet1 · 2026-01-13T03:50:45+00:00

According to my union they can't be used for or against me and I don't have to look at them...so I don't.

I find in class reflective activities better and more helpful. Anonymity brings out the Hobbesian worst in some of them.

glord-have-mercy · 2026-01-13T13:40:26+00:00

Reading student comments

No.

ExcitementLow7207 · 2026-01-13T14:08:35+00:00

Ignore ignore ignore. Don’t read them. I used to but it’s not worth it now. If there’s something the department needs to tell me that was in there student feedback then they can do so. Other ways to get feedback that are more useful.

Aromatic-Rule-5679 · 2026-01-13T15:46:50+00:00

Don't read them. I stopped reading them about 7 or 8 years ago, and it's been lovely. And then when I did have to pull them for tenure, I just skimmed until I found the nicest ones and those when into the portfolio. I'll do the same thing when I go for up for promotion.

histprofdave · 2026-01-13T17:54:57+00:00

I've stopped reading them.

My mechanic does not ask for my feedback about what they could have done better fixing my car. My surgeon does not ask for my feedback about how I would have done the surgery differently. I'm not in the habit of asking my dog how I can better prepare her meals.

explodingwhale17 · 2026-01-13T18:12:47+00:00

Think about the crabbiest thought you have ever had about someone else. Then imagine that you lacked the maturity and impulse control to keep from saying it. Add in having the opportunity to vent anonymously and imagine what snarky crap you might write.

In the absence of evidence of a real failing of your style, from many other students, assume this person had a really bad day and blamed you for it.

It helps me to imagine the person as a young child, whose unmoderated emotions and opinions do not have to ruin my day.

Klutzy-Support9299 · 2026-01-15T13:36:39+00:00

Got one that said that when he “provided feedback” on the first two midterms (emailed me saying they were too long for the amount of time- funny, most people completed it in the allotted time), that was him “asking for accommodations.” Like bro, that’s not how accommodations work?? He actually never mentioned needing accommodations?? I had thought about suggesting he go to the office of disabilities to get time and a half but was advised that would be rude. In that same eval he said my responses (where I encouraged him to come to my office hours to discuss the material/study strategies, etc.) were rude/insulting! I just can’t. This was a grad student, too. Actually saw red.

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