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It’s the end of the semester and instructors are asking students to complete late assignments, finals, papers and one more thing, course evaluations. Most students fill out the forms quickly marking so many A’s and so many E’s so they can leave class early. But with rising tuition and little movement in financial aid assistance, course evaluations are one form of speaking about the quality of education that’s costing so much.
Students are paying for their education or at least someone is. Shouldn’t they get their money’s worth? How do you measure the quality of a product? By asking the consumer. How will the manufacturers know their product is defective? When a complaint has been lodged.
Evaluations are more than an opportunity to leave class early, but an opportunity to affect the rest of a student’s investment. Some students are paying $6,000 an academic year and others are paying $20,000. Tell the administration, the trustees and the state legislators the money is either worth it or they need to evaluate the university’s worth before voting.
Most students believe the evaluations are worthless. “I don’t think they really do much just from past experience,” said freshman communication major Lauren Garrett.
Associate professors, adjuncts and so on are affected by evaluations the most. Their position in the department, their chances for tenure and their pay depend on their evaluations to a degree. Because the University of Louisville is a research school and how much grant money an associate professor brings in is more important than their ability to teach, students can remind the administration why U of L exists.
In mid-November eight students protested against the Student Government Association at a student address for their poor decision making on behalf of the student body. Although it was only eight students, the demonstration raised questions not to just SGA, but the administration and, more importantly, to students.
Not many students would participate in a demonstration. Out of more than 22,000 students only eight were brave enough to express civil disagreement. But not every student wants to demonstrate their voice, their power using that method. Another way is through the evaluations.
“The comments are a waste of time because no one writes them,” said Amruth Krishnamurthy, a freshman biology major. “Half of the time students leave before they get them. They may not get the correct response because people goof off on them.”
Instead of rushing out and wasting money, wait. Reflect. Say something. Do something. Students are paying for their bad education or the best money can buy.
