Evaluate FAQs
This error message occurs when the system cannot find your username. It can be because you don't have any units to evaluate.
Students should use their standard student Deakin username and logon.
If the link does not work automatically by clicking on it from the email invitation, then copy and paste the link into a new browser session.
Your eVALUate responses cannot be altered or deleted once they have been submitted.
No, it is not compulsory. However, we believe it is the right of every student to be able to provide feedback on their units and teachers. Feedback provided can, and does, assist staff in improving units and their teaching.
The unit evaluations are conducted over several weeks to allow for the variety of units offered at Deakin. You can respond to the survey anytime up until the date indicated in your invitation emails.
The evaluation period runs for several weeks with multiple reminders. You will receive a reminder for your units that have not been evaluated. This is an automated aspect of the online evaluations system that cannot be 'turned off' for individual students. Once your unit(s) has/have been evaluated you will not receive any more reminders. You should just ignore the reminders until you receive the final reminder if you wish to delay your evaluations.
Forward the original email with your issue to dusurvey@deakin.edu.au for further investigation.
The teaching staff names are entered by the school/faculty responsible for the teaching of the unit and cannot be changed once the evaluations period has commenced. Do not provide feedback or evaluate teaching staff that have not taught you – leave this blank and add your comments in the section relating to the unit as a whole.
If you wish to provide feedback for a staff member that is not on the survey, you can do so through alternative channels, i.e. by contacting the unit chair, head of school and/or the associate dean (teaching and learning).
This is most likely due to a late withdrawal from the unit/s – you will still be included in the evaluations if you were enrolled in the unit(s) after the trimester census date. You do not need to complete the unit evaluations if you do not wish. As it is an automated process, you will continue to get reminders until the conclusion of the evaluation period.
Some units are exempted from being part of standard online evaluations system and process. This may be due to the unit/s being part of a thesis, having a substantial research component, being a work placement, an industry project, or there may be alternative arrangements in place for the evaluation of the unit/s. You may provide your feedback to the unit chair, head of school and/or the associate dean (teaching and learning).
Yes, only aggregated data are included in any reports. However, your comments are available verbatim to line management of the unit(s). This includes named teaching staff, unit chair, head of school, associate dean (teaching and learning) and faculty pro vice-chancellor, so be sure to not include information that may identify you in your comments. Any comments you provide should be constructive and respectful in accordance with your responsibilities as a Deakin student under the Student Code of Conduct.
In rare instances, a student may be identified from the survey when their comments indicate that there is a threat to their own safety and well-being, or the safety and well-being of other students or staff. The process involves the relevant unit chair/teacher alerting senior faculty staff to a comment/s. These comments are then considered as to their possible/probable impact by at least two senior staff. If it's agreed that the comments/s indicate that there is a threat to student's own safety and well-being, or the safety and well-being of other students or staff, only the dean of students is given access to the identity of that student so that appropriate steps can be taken to ensure the student’s safety or that of others.
Your results are confidential (please refer to question above 'Are my results confidential?’). Your comments are available verbatim to line management of the unit(s) after the survey period has finished, data has been checked/released, and after your results have been released/the next trimester has commenced.
As a student, you have the right to express legitimate concerns and complaints and to have them considered through a fair and transparent process. The Student Complaints page provides information about how to raise your concerns or to lodge a formal complaint.
Your evaluation survey responses are used for a variety of purposes in the context of monitoring outcomes and informing continuous quality improvement.
Examples are as follows:
- Staff responsible for the teaching of units as well as unit chairs and other senior faculty staff review the feedback and use them to inform continuous quality improvement of our units and teachers, as well as to review the effectiveness of changes implemented.
- Aggregated outcomes are monitored to assess changes over time for different cohorts, and to inform decisions as to which areas may require further attention.
- For each trimester, a report is presented to the University teaching and learning committee on aggregated eVALUate unit outcomes with comparative data over time focusing on percentage agreement. Significant differences at the faculty and school level and unit variances to the norm are highlighted. In addition, each faculty provides a report on areas of strength, areas for improvement and actions undertaken or that will be taken in response.
- Teacher evaluation outcomes inform staff probation and performance reviews, teaching awards and promotions processes.
Aggregated unit outcomes of at least 10 responses by faculty, school, unit and location/campus combinations are reported publicly to inform students and the broader public in the interests of transparency at https://apps.deakin.edu.au/evaluate/results/general.php.
Other queries
For queries regarding surveys not covered above, or in relation to student evaluations administration, analysis and reporting, please email the Strategic Intelligence and Planning Unit (SIPU) at dusurvey@deakin.edu.au. Emails to this address are monitored regularly and will be forwarded to the appropriate person for follow-up.