The Student Learning Experience Survey (SLES) is conducted each semester to gather course-level feedback from students in courses and programs that lead to an Ontario College credential.
Survey data is used to help recognize exceptional teaching practices and can
play a vital role in the continuous improvement of Loyalist courses, as well as professional development for faculty and staff. Surveys are distributed using the Blue Survey tool.
For each course survey, students provide feedback on the following:
All processes of the Student Learning Experience Survey are outlined in Loyalist College AOP 237 – Student Learning Experience Survey.
The main phases of the Survey Process have been outlined below:
Faculty have the option to add up to three (3) unique questions to the survey for each course to which they have been assigned in Week 5 and 6 of a typical semester.
These additions can take the form of Single Selection or Comment questions.
Automated invitations and reminders to complete the question personalization are emailed to faculty.
Note: Only one set of personalized questions can be added per course. In situations where more than one instructor might be assigned to a course (e.g., co-teaching, multiple sections), faculty must determine personalized options collaboratively.
Additional Resources:
Blue User Guide – Faculty
By default, all course surveys are delivered in the last third of the semester.
Department Deans and Chairs can customize the survey period to any two-week period within Week 7 – Week 11 to accommodate fast-tracked courses, courses with placement, etc.
During the survey period, students receive automated invitations via email and alerts within Blackboard to complete surveys for their courses. They also receive reminders for all outstanding surveys throughout the response period.
Faculty also receive an email invitation to review a Response Rate Report for each of their assigned courses during the survey period. This tool helps faculty to monitor how many students have responded to the course survey so that they can encourage participation.
Loyalist College targets a 65% response rate per course.
Additional Resources:
Blue User Guide – Faculty
Student Learning Experience Survey – Student Resources
Quick Tips for Maximizing Response Rates (PDF)
Reports are distributed to faculty for each course to which they are assigned at the end of the semester, after the deadline for final grades to be submitted.
Faculty receive three reports per course:
These reports can be accessed via emailed invitation or by accessing the Blue Portal using MyLoyalist login credentials. The portal also contains reports from past semesters.
Additional Resources:
Blue User Guide – Faculty
Quick Tips for Interpreting Survey Results (PDF)
For questions related to the survey or related policies, faculty should contact their Dean’s Office.
All inquiries for technical assistance should be sent to servicedesk@loyalistcollege.com.