Using Course Evaluations as Indicators of Student Success

This technical report investigates the use of end-of-term course evaluations as indicators of student success in higher education. It outlines how course evaluations, which are commonly used to gather student feedback, can inform institutional outreach strategies aimed at enhancing student engagement and retention. The report discusses the relationship between evaluation responses and student persistence and course completion rates, defining success in terms of these metrics. It presents a dataset from nine partner institutions, analyzing response rates and their correlation with student outcomes. The findings suggest that students who engage with course evaluations tend to have higher success rates, indicating that evaluation data can serve as a leading indicator of potential risks to student success. The report also highlights the need for further research into effective interventions based on evaluation data to support at-risk students. Future areas of study are proposed to explore the implications of course evaluations on student success more deeply.