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Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Your participation in Student Course Experience Surveys demonstrates your commitment to student success. By working together, we can create a learning environment that is not only meaningful, but also continuously evolving to meet the needs of our students. 


What Is Explorance Blue?

Explorance Blue is the university’s official course survey platform. It allows students to provide anonymous feedback on their courses and instructors during designated survey periods.

Email Invitations

  • During an open survey period, you will receive email notifications inviting you to complete your available course surveys.
  • Each email includes a link to your surveys. If the email link does not work, you can access your surveys directly through the Explorance Blue website.

Instructor Access to Results

  • Instructors do not receive survey results until after final grades have been submitted.
  • This process ensures that your feedback has no impact on your course grade.

Survey Anonymity

  • Survey responses are anonymous. Instructors are not provided with the names of respondents.
  • You should avoid including any identifying information in your responses.

Why Your Responses Matter

  • Your feedback is important in determining course effectiveness and instructional practices.
  • Instructors review survey results and often incorporate feedback when planning future semesters.
  • Survey results may also be considered by university leadership, including the Office of the Provost, in processes such as tenure and promotion reviews.

How to Provide Helpful Feedback

To ensure your feedback is constructive and impactful, consider the following guidelines:

  • Focus your responses on how the course and instruction affected your learning.
  • Provide specific, thoughtful, and constructive comments.
  • Explain what aspects of the course should remain the same and what could be improved, including your reasoning.
  • Maintain a professional and respectful tone.
  • Do not include identifying or personal information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Survey periods for full-term courses typically begin three weeks before the last day of class and end on the last day of class. For half-term courses, the survey periods typically begin two weeks before the last day of class and end on the last day of class.

The most reliable way to access your surveys is by going directly to the Explorance Blue website. You can also access your surveys through the links in the reminder emails or via Blackboard.

No, participation is voluntary. However, completing surveys is strongly encouraged, as your feedback can influence course improvements.

No. However, completing all surveys is preferable, as this allows your voice to be heard. Some incentives (if offered) may require completion of all surveys for eligibility.

Email notifications are reminders to complete your surveys. University-wide updates or troubleshooting information may appear as banners in Blackboard during the survey period. There will also be a pop-up in Blackboard reminding students and faculty to complete any available tasks in Explorance Blue.

First, visit the Explorance Blue website directly to check for available surveys. If you still do not see your surveys while the survey period is open, submit a support request.

First, try accessing the Explorance Blue website directly. If login issues persist, submit a support request.

No. If instructor or TA information is incorrect on your survey, please let your instructor know immediately.

There may be several reasons. If you believe a survey is missing, submit a support request.

If you drop a course, you will not complete a survey for that class. If a dropped course still appears in Explorance Blue, submit a support request.

Instructors receive a report containing anonymous responses for their courses. A select number of administrative staff may also have access to survey data.

No. Instructors cannot access responses until after final grades are submitted, and course surveys are anonymous.

No. Survey responses are final once submitted.


Need Help?

For technical issues or questions related to Explorance Blue, submit a support request through the Service Desk:

When submitting a ticket, please include:

  • Course ID and Instructor
  • Description of the issue
  • Screenshots, if applicable

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