Course Experience Survey (CES)
The Course Experience Survey (CES) is an online tool that allows the University of Victoria to hear about the student learning experience. By compiling the information submitted in the CES, the university is able to gather feedback and comments on courses and instructors to help improve the student experience. If you would like to learn more about the CES from an instructor's perspective, please visit the faculty & instructor CES resources page.
- Accessing the
survey - Tips on leaving constructive
feedback for instructors - Instructor syllabus
statement
How will I know how to access these online surveys?
Links to your CES surveys will be emailed to you. In most courses, your instructor will show you in class how to access the CES on your laptop, tablet, or smart phone and will leave the class temporarily to give you the opportunity to complete the survey online during class time. In some courses you may be directed to complete the surveys outside of class. If you are in an online class the CES link will also be delivered to you by email.
What will the email look like?
Sample of CES Online Student Email
What email address will the survey be sent to?
The email will be sent to your preferred email. Please ensure that your preferred email address in MyPage is accurate.
How can I ensure that I receive email invitations to complete my course experience surveys?
First, make sure that your preferred email address in MyPage is an address you are actively monitoring.
Next, check your “safe senders list" to ensure that the CES email address in your email system isn't being flagged as spam.
Add “ceshelp@uvic.ca” to your Gmail contacts
Add “ceshelp@uvic.ca” to your Hotmail Safe Senders
Add “ceshelp@uvic.ca” to your Yahoo contacts
How do I access the CES if I didn't receive an email?
If you have not received an email you can go directly to your online CES dashboard. Once you sign in with your UVic Netlink ID you will be direct to your open evaluations.
What if I am not in class when the CES is being conducted?
You can log in to your CES dashboard during the time your survey is open to you and complete all the surveys that are available for you to complete. Every course is available for a certain time period (usually the last 1/6th of the course).
The Course Experience Survey (CES) online form provides a space where you can provide feedback to your instructor that is constructive, respectful and effective.
Sometimes your instructor will give you specific questions he/she would like you to address (e.g. if he/she has tried something new and would like your perspective on how well it worked).
If there is nothing specific they need your help with, try asking yourself (and answering) the following questions:
- What did my instructor do that really helped me learn in this course? (He/she needs to know this so as to continue helping students in the future.)
- Was there anything that my instructor did/did not do that could have helped me learn more effectively?
- What specific suggestions do I have that would help my instructor improve his/her teaching and/or the design of this course for future students?
When you provide feedback always:
- Give a clear example from the course to illustrate your point (e.g. refer to a particular lecture, topic or assignment).
- Phrase your feedback in a positive way (e.g. “In the lecture on ground water pollutants I think I would have learned more if you had written down the key points on the board or stated the learning outcomes for the class ahead of time”).