Policy Learning and Teaching Student Evaluation of Subjects and Teaching Policy
Student Evaluation of Subjects and Teaching Policy
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Marine Science
- Courses
- Future Students
- Current Students
- Research and Teaching
- Partners and Community
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Living on Campus
- How to apply
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- Alumni
- AMHHEC
- JCU Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Australian Lions Stinger Research
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Employability Edge
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at JCU
- Careers and Employability
- Chancellery
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyber Security Hub
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Research Division
- Services and Resources Division
- Education Division
- Elite Athletes
- eResearch
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Estate
- Fletcherview
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- General Practice and Rural Medicine
- JC 'U' Orientation
- Give to JCU
- Governance
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Graduate Research School
- Graduation
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Indigenous Engagement
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- International Schools
- International Students
- Research and Innovation Services
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Webinars
- JCU Events
- JCU Global Experience
- JCU Ideas Lab
- JCU Job Ready
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Prizes
- JCU Sport
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- CEE
- LearnJCU
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- MARF
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- New students
- Off-Campus Students
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Virtual Open Day
- Orpheus
- Outstanding Alumni
- Parents and Partners
- Pathways to university
- Pharmacy Full Scope
- Planning for your future
- Placements
-
Policy
- Academic Governance
- Academic Management
- Engagement
-
Corporate Governance
- Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy
- Affiliation of a Residential College Policy
- Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
- Business Continuity Policy
- Child Safety Policy
- Code of Conduct – University Council
- Compliance Policy
- Conduct of Council Elections Policy
- Conflicts of Interests Policy – University Council and its Committees
- Controlled and Non-Controlled Entities Policy
- Critical Incident Policy
- Data Governance Policy
- Distinguished Professor Policy
- Domestic and Family Violence Policy
- Emeritus Professor Policy
- Foreign Interference Policy
- General Practice Training Governance Policy
- Incident Management Policy
- Information Privacy Policy
- Legal Services Claims and Litigation Assistance Policy
- Organisational Structure Policy
- Records Management Policy
- Right to Information Policy
- Risk Management Policy
- Social Media Policy
- Staff Code of Conduct
- University Archives - Access
- Visiting Speaker and Event Policy
- Policy Development and Review Policy
- Quality Enhancement Framework
- Reviews of Organisational Units and Thematic Areas - Policy and Procedures
-
Estate and Facility Management
- Advertising on Campus
- Alcohol Consumption on University Property
- Approval of Works to University Buildings and Site Infrastructure
- Authorised Use of University Facilities, Premises and/or Grounds for Non-core Purposes
- Environmental Policy
- High Voltage Access Policy
- Memorial Plaques
- Noise on University Sites
- Real Estate Dealings Policy
- Security Policy
- Space Allocation and Management Policy
- Student Timetable Policy
- Tree Protection
- Vehicle Fleet Policy
- Weapons Policy
- Adaptive Workplace Policy
-
Financial Management
- Appendices
-
Assets (FMPM 200 - FMPM 399)
- FMPM 200 Overview - Assets & Cash Management
- FMPM 210 Cash
- FMPM 220 Policy - Bank Accounts
- FMPM 230 - Petty Cash Advances
- FMPM 300 Investments
- FMPM 320 Plant and Equipment
- Financial FMPM 322 - Acquisitions of Plant and Equipment
- FMPM 260 Other Advances
- FMPM 330 Non-Capital Assets
- FMPM 280 Official Stores
- FMPM 290 Prepayments
- FMPM 323 - Disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment Procedure
- FMPM 324 Stocktake
- FMPM 350 Intangible Assets
- FMPM 270-2 Accounts Receivable - Student Debtors - Penalties
- FMPM 240 Travel Advances (Students)
- FMPM 330 Non-Capital Assets
- FMPM 270-1 Accounts Receivable
- FMPM 250 - Policy Salary Advances
- Equity (FMPM 500 - FMPM 599)
- Expenses (FMPM 700 - FMPM799)
- Financial Management and Control (FMPM 800 - FMPM 899)
- Further Applications (FMPM 900 - FMPM 999)
- Introduction (FMPM 100 - FMPM 199)
- Liabilities (FMPM 400 - FMPM 499)
- Revenue (FMPM 600 - FMPM 699)
-
Human Resources
- Awards for Excellence Policy
- Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
- Community and Indigenous Language Allowance
- Competency Pay for Tradespersons Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Early Retirement Policy
- Equal Employment Opportunity
- Honorary Appointments Policy
- Human Resources Policy Glossary
- Market Loading Policy
- Overpayment of Wages Policy
- Performance, Development and Recognition Policy
- Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Policy
- Relocation Assistance Policy
- Remote Working Policy
- Salary Packaging Program Policy
- Special Studies Program Policy
- Supported Wage System (SWS) Policy
- Mandatory Training Policy
- Digital Infrastructure
-
International and Admissions
- Attendance Monitoring Policy - English Language and Foundation Programs
- Enrolment Requirements for International Student Visa-Holders Policy
- Management of Off-Campus Operations, Ventures and Partnerships
- Transfer of International Student Visa Holders to Other Educational Institutions
- US Federal Student Aid-SAP & Return to Title IV Policy
- Admissions Policy
-
Learning and Teaching
- Blended Learning Policy
- Charter of Responsibilities for Academic Quality and Governance
- Coursework Academic Integrity Policy
- English Language and Numeracy Policy
- Graduate Attributes
- Graduate Certificate of Education (Academic Practice) Internal Sponsorship Policy
- Learning Teaching and Assessment Policy
- Policy Glossary
- Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement
- Student Digital Experience Policy
- Student Evaluation of Subjects and Teaching Policy
- Student Retention Policy
- Research Education
- Research Management
-
Student Matters
- Academic Progression Policy
- Administration of Commonwealth Scholarships Policy
- Attendance Monitoring Policy - English Language and Foundation Programs
- Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy
- Bullying, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
- Copyright Policy and Procedure
- Coursework Enrolment Policy
- Coursework Scholarships, Grants and Prizes Policy
- Library Use Policy
- Student Code of Conduct
- Student Complaints Policy
- Student Disability Policy
- Student Fee Payments and Refunds Policy
- Student Review and Appeals Policy (effective from 01/01/2023)
- Student Special Circumstances Policy
- Transfer of International Student Visa Holders to Other Educational Institutions
- Student Results Policy
- Support for Students Policy (Interim)
- Work Health and Safety
- Policy search
- PAHL
- Publications
- Professional Experience Placement
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Safety and Wellbeing
- Scholarships
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- Staff
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TARL
- TESS
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- UAV
- VAVS Home
- Work Health and Safety
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
- Centre for Tropical Biosecurity
- Open Day
- Defence
- JCU Heroes Programs
Intent
James Cook University is committed to a University-wide approach to gathering feedback from students about their experiences of subjects and teaching and providing a timely response in consideration of their feedback.
This policy sets out the use of institutional survey instruments (YourJCU on the PULSE, YourJCU Subject and YourJCU Teaching Surveys) to provide insights into the JCU student experience of subjects and teaching for the primary purpose of enhancing the quality of subjects and teaching. The institutional surveys provide a mechanism for students, as stakeholders, to contribute to the continuous improvement of subjects and teaching.
Institutional survey data also supports benchmarking capability against sector wide student experience data and provides one source of evidence of teaching performance in curriculum review, recruitment, performance development and promotions processes.
Scope
This policy applies to the collection and use of YourJCU Survey data for all enabling, sub-degree, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework subjects taught at James Cook University.
Definitions
YourJCU on the PULSE survey: an online survey deployed to students prior to census date of a study period to collect feedback on their early experiences of their studies within a subject. Resulting data is formative.
YourJCU Subject Survey: an online survey deployed to students towards the end of a study period to collect feedback on their learning experiences within a subject.
YourJCU Teaching Survey: an online survey deployed to students towards the end of a study period to collect feedback on a student’s experience of teaching within a subject. Teaching staff (other than JCU Singapore) must opt-in for a teaching survey to be deployed. JCU Singapore teaching staff will be automatically opted in to the YourJCU Teaching survey.
YourJCU Survey Suite: a set of surveys constructed to seek feedback on the student experience of subjects and teaching, comprising: YourJCU on the PULSE, YourJCU Subject Survey, YourJCU Teaching Survey
TRDB: Teaching Roles Data Base. Information contained in this database determines the relationship a teaching staff member has with a subject for survey purposes.
Teaching Staff: staff listed in the TRDB as a Subject Coordinator, Lecturer or Tutor
Principles
This policy is articulated according to six principles:
- Feedback on the student learning experience will be collected for all campuses, modes and study periods offered by the University.
- Students have rights and responsibilities in relation to providing and receiving YourJCU Survey data.
- Teaching staff have rights and responsibilities in relation to receiving and acting upon YourJCU Survey data.
- Divisions and Colleges have rights and responsibilities in relation to receiving and acting upon YourJCU Survey data.
- Participation by a representative sample of the student cohort is fundamental to obtaining reliable YourJCU Survey data.
- More than one source of evidence is required for evaluating and enhancing the quality of subjects and teaching
Policy
1. Feedback on the student learning experience is collected for all eligible subjects across campuses, modes and study periods.
1.1 Each study period, all JCU coursework subjects with current enrolments will be surveyed via the YourJCU on the PULSE survey, prior to census date.
1.2 Each study period, all JCU coursework subjects with current enrolments will be surveyed via the YourJCU Subject Survey.
1.3 Teaching staff must opt-in to participate in a student evaluation of their teaching via the YourJCU Teaching Survey at least once per calendar year.
1.4 The YourJCU suite of surveys is the primary instrument used for the collection of data from students about their experiences of subjects and teaching at JCU. The use of any survey instruments other than Your JCU surveys is solely the responsibility of the academic staff administering them and should be done in consideration of other institutional surveys that may be in progress, as per the YourJCU Survey Calendar.
2. Students have rights and responsibilities in relation to providing and receiving YourJCU Survey data.
2.1 Students have the right to:
a) Access a personalised, secure and easy to use platform for providing confidential feedback on subjects and teaching practices;
b) Receive a response from teaching staff on the feedback submitted for YourJCU on the PULSE. This response should be communicated within five university working days of the PULSE survey closing;
c) Receive aggregate YourJCU Subject Survey reports in accordance with the YourJCU Survey Distribution List;
d) Be informed that YourJCU Survey data will be collected and used for the purposes of enhancing the quality of learning and teaching and may also be used for promotion applications and excellence awards;
e) Be informed about the changes made to learning, teaching and assessment design, in response to previous cohorts’ YourJCU Survey data, in the subject outline;
f) Be informed about what constitutes effective and constructive feedback to support continuous quality improvement of subjects and teaching and in accordance with the Student Charter.
2.2 Students have a responsibility to:
a) Provide considered and constructive feedback about their experiences of subjects and teaching in accordance with the Student Charter.
b) Provide feedback in a manner consistent with the University’s expectations of students in respect of academic, personal and professional behaviour identified in the Student Code of Conduct.
3. Teaching staff have rights and responsibilities in relation to receiving and acting upon YourJCU Survey data.
3.1 Teaching staff have the right to:
a) Receive YourJCU Survey reports in accordance with the YourJCU Survey Distribution List;
b) Submit a written request to the Manager, Quality Assurance and Evaluation for the removal or redaction of open-ended YourJCU Survey responses if they include malicious comments including threatening, intimidating, abusive or discriminatory content. Student feedback that is negative but not malicious is not eligible for removal after publication.
3.2 Teaching staff have a responsibility to:
a) Review YourJCU on the PULSE, Subject and Teaching Survey data in order to enhance the quality of subjects and teaching;
b) Inform students of actions undertaken in response to YourJCU on the PULSE data prior to census and to learning, teaching and assessment design in response to YourJCU Subject data in the subject outline for the subsequent year of subject delivery.
4. Divisions and Colleges have rights and responsibilities in relation to receiving and acting upon YourJCU Survey data.
4.1 Divisions and Colleges have the right to receive YourJCU Survey reports in accordance with the YourJCU Survey Distribution List.
4.2 Divisions and Colleges have a responsibility to:
a) Participate in determining benchmarks for YourJCU Survey results at different year levels and cohort sizes (as endorsed by Education Committee);
b) Acknowledge staff who achieve high student satisfaction scores or have demonstrated significant improvement in satisfaction scores;
c) Identify subjects that have received low student satisfaction scores. These subjects will be reviewed in accordance with the Academic Quality Framework and Processes to enhance the quality of learning and teaching.
5. Participation by a representative sample of the student cohort is fundamental to obtaining reliable YourJCU Survey data.
5.1 Student participation in the YourJCU Survey suite will be promoted by teaching staff, Course Coordinators and College Deans.
5.2 Innovative and appropriate communication strategies will be used across the institution to promote the YourJCU survey suite to all students to facilitate strong response rates.
6. More than one source of evidence is required for evaluating and enhancing the quality of subjects and teaching.
6.1 All YourJCU surveys are conducted within the context of the subject being taught. As a consequence, interpretation of subject and teaching feedback needs to consider the impact of contextual variables on the scores obtained and comments made, before conclusions are reached.
6.2 More than one source of evidence is required for evaluating and enhancing the quality of subjects and teaching. Teaching staff are required to collect and document multiple forms of evidence of the quality of subjects and teaching (e.g. evidence of student learning, evidence of curriculum enhancement or transformation, evidence from peer review and scholarship of learning and teaching and other relevant professional indicators. See the 4Q Model of Evaluation ).
6.3 YourJCU Subject and Teaching Survey Likert-scale results, as well as YourJCU Subject Survey open-ended responses, will be incorporated into annual Performance and Development Planning conversations for all teaching staff.
6.4 YourJCU Subject and Teaching Survey data will be incorporated into the three yearly peer review of a subject’s assessment plans and grading practices as well as the cyclical three year subject review in accordance with the Academic Quality Framework and Processes (see also Learning, Teaching and Assessment Procedures 2.4.2).
6.5 YourJCU Survey data must not be used as the sole source of evidence for decisions regarding promotion, tenure or contract renewal.
6.6 Any use of YourJCU Survey data for research purposes must be supported by an Ethics Approval Notice from the JCU Human Research Ethics Committee.
Related policy instruments
Student Evaluation of Subjects and Teaching Procedure
YourJCU Survey Distribution List
Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy
Related documents and legislation
Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Administration
NOTE: Printed copies of this policy are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.
Approval Details
Policy Domain | Learning and Teaching |
Policy Sponsor | Deputy Vice Chancellor, Education |
Approval Authority | Academic Board |
Date for next Major Review | 08/11/2026 |
Revision History
Version | Approval date | Approved by | Implementation date | Details | Author | |
23-1 | 12/05/2023 | DVC Education | 15/05/2023 | Minor amendment to Contact Person and clause 3.1(b) roles switched from Dean, CEE to Manager, Quality Assurance and Evaluation | Manager, Divisional Administration | |
22-1 | 08/11/2021 | Academic Board | 01/01/2022 | Major review. Amended to align with policies, delete references to analytics, added definitions, reviewed and updated distribution list | Dean, Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement | |
17-2 | 06/11/2017 | 10/11/2017 | Major review simplifying policy, removing procedural content, establishing principles and including reference to student Learning Analytics | Manager, Student Success Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement | ||
17/1 | 19/06/2017 | 28/07/2017 | Increase clarity and alignment between SELT Policy and the associated Distribution List; Support the use of YourJCU Subject and YourJCU Teaching Survey data in the PDP process. New paragraph inserted enabling abusive, disparaging or unacceptable comments to be redacted. | Manager, Student Success Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement | ||
16-3 | 29/05/2017 | 30/05/2017 | Minor amendments to ensure alignment with the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (YourJCU) Distribution List and to clarify use and sharing of YourJCU Teaching Survey data | Manager, Student Success Learning, teaching and Student Engagement |
Keywords | Learning, Teaching, feedback, quality enhancement, YourJCU |
Contact person | Dean, Centre for Education and Enhancement |