Academic Feedback is a feedback portal that allows students to express whether their experience with a certain professor in any course was good, satisfactory, or dissatisfactory. The portal allows students to express what they liked about the course or the instructor as well as what they felt was falling short or wrong. Although the portal is open for all students, what happens after hitting the submit button is unknown to all - and quite the reason why there is such disdain for the Academic Feedback system.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT FEEDBACK?

The Dean of Academics, Dr. Atul Thakur explains the process behind this system quite vividly “The feedback form is a right mix of quantitative and qualitative assessment of the course instructor. The process begins immediately after the last hour of instruction. The timing was selected carefully so as to avoid any form of biased responses and judgments - both from the students and teachers. The portal shall be open before the assessment is done, and the feedback shall be available to the lecturers only after the grading process. We make sure that every student fills out the feedback form, which is taken twice a semester so that the instructor can improve and make course corrections before the end of the course.

The first thing that happens after the feedback is received is that the instructor receives these remarks for personal improvement. Every teacher here wants to improve, and I have seen impact myself - be it something as small as the teacher’s inaudible voice or tiny handwriting. The second point it goes to are the Heads of Departments. If the matter is of concern, the HOD holds a meeting with the concerned teacher to resolve it. Finally, it is given due importance during the teacher’s promotions and other processes.

FEEDBACK, YET NO REDRESSAL?

Despite having this healthy system that is regularly updated, the students are still not quite convinced which is evident from the VP Gymkhana Rahul Preetham’s remarks:

The feedback is taken in, but what happens next is unlike what one would expect. It does not help in redressal but simply feedback for the faculty. No consolidated steps are taken in lieu of the problems put forward by the students.

It is very true that the students do not really care for or are even aware of the significance of the system. Unlike the feedback systems, students have probably seen in the past (especially coaching institutes), where negative feedback might even suggest a change in faculty, here the feedback is taken and the professor goes through it along with the Dean and the Director. In case a matter is repetitive or needs to be addressed, a meeting is called and the word of advice is conveyed to the concerned faculty and that’s it.”

However, the Dean stands by the existing system, citing how it came into force:

Dr. Atul Thakur explains “A committee consisting of faculty advisors was formed when we went around on improving the feedback form. They analyzed and researched several feedback forms and created a draft. This draft was taken to the faculty members and the senate. One of the members of the Senate was the VP Gymkhana and the VP took it to the student body. After being approved by this Senate, it was finally implemented. I believe the Gymkhana must also be more responsible to make this system more accessible. The feedback is voluntary, and mandating it does not ensure that we receive genuine responses. The student body should encourage students to provide genuine, specific, and constructive feedback that we can work with.”

The feedback system will get as good as you try to make it. The students should start trusting the system more and utilize such facilities to their maximum benefit.
-Dean of Academics Dr. Atul Thakur

He also adds: “The goal of the feedback form is to help the teacher improve. These feedbacks also play a part among others when teachers are considered for promotions. If the students do face any major grievances related to the course or instructor they can immediately mail it to the Academic Dean, and required action will then be taken. They do not need to wait for the feedback form to put forth any major concerns.”

‘STUDENTS MUST TRUST THE SYSTEM’

When it comes to how seriously the students take this system and their role in making it a success, both the VP and Dean were of the same opinion that students were not making good use of the system at hand.

The Dean contends that - the feedback system will get as good as you try to make it. . Only a small fraction of the student population fill the form, and only around 20-30% of these consist of genuine responses. If all the students start filling the form genuinely, even the instructors will take the feedback forms very seriously and try to implement changes in their methodologies. The students should start trusting the system more and utilize such facilities to their maximum benefit - IITs are student-centric, and this is the most important change that needs to be brought about.”

The VP however argues that one must also look into the reason why students neglect the form first. He believes this is because there haven’t been any evident or measurable changes due to the feedback systems and only adds up as another burden to students. Therefore I suggested that a parallel system be introduced where students are given the democratic choice to choose the best-suited professors for their semester and courses if they feel that the existent faculty is not meeting their pace or requirements.

Despite differences in opinion, both the admin and Gymkhana recognize the importance of such a system over having no system. The VP admits that it is helpful in a way that connects the students and professors on a more honest foot, keeping in mind that the responses are anonymous the students are usually able to put across opinions that they wouldn’t normally say in front of the professor.

The Dean is also quite optimistic and open to suggestions and cooperation with the students to further embolden this system: “Earlier, we had kept an open house and received input from the students that the form was too lengthy. We gave this a serious thought and reduced it to a fewer number of questions. Whether we have been successful or not, we’ll find out at the next open house. We do acknowledge that the system is not perfect, but we hope that students be patient and bring any concerns to us and work with us to address them.”

Move on to Part Two: Market Feedback to read about Market Feedback and how it works.

Read Part Two: Market Feedback