Fordham University has released a new survey tool for evaluating classes, professors and overall student experience at the end of each semester. The Student Experience Survey (SES) will replace the outgoing Student Evaluation of Educational Quality (SEEQ) this spring.
In contrast to the 41-question SEEQ survey, the SES is only 15 questions. SES forms are currently in use in other New York institutions, including Brooklyn College and New York City College of Technology (City Tech).
The SEEQ program transitioned to an online format in 2013, after being previously administered in print. This change was part of the university’s shift towards digital evaluations, which began in 2009. While the method of administration changed, the content of the form stayed the same.
The Faculty Evaluation Committee is responsible for developing the application. Professor Sharif Mowlabocus, Ph.D., chair of the communication and media department, worked on the committee and shared some words about the new platform’s implementation.
“It still offers students an opportunity to provide qualitative and quantitative feedback–including open-ended questions — but it should take less time to complete,” Mowlabocus said.
He also said the questionnaire helps students to recognize the active role they play in their Fordham education and gives them a voice in their educational journey.
“By asking questions about how students supported their own learning in class, for example by reflecting on how much time they spent on independent study, we are able to better understand the global learning experience for each individual class,” said Mowlabocus. “We are, of course, continuing to focus on the instructor’s role in the class, but the SES offers a more rounded picture of the learning experience.”
Condensing the questionnaire allowed the committee to remove questions that were complicated or unclear.
“Perhaps most importantly, it is a leaner, more focused and more straightforward platform, that asks questions in a clearer, more understandable way,” said Mowlabocus.
The team also hopes to address concerns over engagement, which were present with the SEEQ, especially when it transferred to a digital platform.
“By creating a streamlined platform, we hope to increase engagement with, and completion of, this new tool,” Mowlabocus said.
The committee also held a pilot study with student trials. Approximately 50% of tenured faculty at Fordham College received the SES as opposed to the SEEQ for the fall 2024 assessment. Mowlabocus described the results as positive.
“If a student started an evaluation using SES, they were more likely to complete and submit it than if they were given the SEEQ to complete,” he said.
Fewer questions were skipped on the SES compared to the SEEQ, and more of the qualitative, open-ended questions were completed on the SES.
“By all measures, the SES proved to be an improvement on the older tool,” he said. “Arguably, this suggests that students are happy with the new and improved platform.”
Some Fordham faculty have also positively received the platform. Christine Fountain, chair of the Faculty Evaluation Committee, delivered a report on the pilot program to the Arts and Sciences Council in December of 2024.
“Members of council overwhelmingly voted in favor of adopting the SES as our standard model of student evaluation,” said Mowlabocus. The transition has been a multi-year research process, hosting both students and faculty of Fordham College. Fordham College students will receive an email in the coming weeks with information about this semester’s SES, and the application will go live between April 22 and April 30.
