Most courses will fall under a course evaluation timeline that is reflective of their individual end dates indicated in DukeHub. As schools vary in their calendar needs and/course end dates, please review the notes about the general process below to be aware of the process for your course(s). This is an approximated and recommended timeline reflective of the last day of classes for the Fall and Spring semesters. Email notifications will be sent to communicate specific dates. Timelines for early ending courses and summer sessions will be condensed and only include a 1-week course review window.
| Course list review for Schools/departments | 2-week window |
| Departmental Custom Questions* | 2-week window |
| Instructor Custom Questions* | 2-week window |
| Course Evaluation window opens | at least one week prior to the last day of class |
| Course Evaluations window closes | no more than 3 days after the last day of class |
| Results released to departments and faculty | after final grades are submitted |
| Results released to students* | at least one week before shopping carts open the following term |
*These course evaluation processes are optional and elected independently by each school.
Process and General Timeline
Each semester, after the add/drop deadline, the Office of Assessment receives an initial course list with instructors and TAs to be imported into the Watermark system. Once the list is in the system, there are several phases in the course evaluation cycle:
- Departmental review. At this time, departmental administrators will be notified of the approximate 2-week window in which courses in Watermark are available for review and editing. School-level or department-level administrators will manage courses, instructors, and TAs within the Watermark platform to ensure evaluations are distributed appropriately.
- Custom Questions - Departments (optional). After the departmental review window has closed, departments will be notified of their window of access to attach custom questions to evaluation(s) for any selection of courses under their purview.
- Custom Questions - Instructors (optional). After departments' access for custom questions has closed, instructors will be notified of their window to add custom questions to their evaluation(s).
- Data Collection. During this time, forms will be open, and students will receive reminders throughout the window to complete their evaluations in Watermark. Evaluation windows are reflective of course end dates. Instructors and administrators will also receive communications during this time to monitor response rates in Watermark.
- Report Distribution. Reports will be released based on the timeline of individual schools, often in alignment with the submission of grades. Instructors and departments will be notified of reports available in Watermark.
- SACES. The Student Accessible Course Evaluation System will continue as a searchable platform in Watermark for participating schools. The Office of Assessment will update the database each term before Shopping Carts open. SACES policies are decided independently by each school. Instructors teaching courses under Trinity College, Nicholas School of the Environment, and Pratt School of Engineering will have an opportunity to opt out of sharing results with students. If desired, an opt-out for a particular course must submitted via the SACES selection form by the deadline, which will be communicated with reminders each term. Late requests to opt out will not be approved.