Course Evaluation
Explorance Blue provides course evaluation services that allow students to evaluate academic courses and instructors in an online format that students can access directly from their Canvas course.
Students
Instructor
Course Evaluation Features
- Online Course Evaluations can be used with any type of course - in-person, hybrid, or fully online.
- Evaluations can be used during Fall, Winterim, Spring, and Summer semesters.
- Tabulated reports are created and sent to department chairs/designates after each evaluation period.
- Students are notified via email when evaluations are available.
- Students can access the evaluations directly inside their Canvas course.
Getting started with Course Evaluations
The online course evaluation system, Explorance Blue, can be used for any type of course, whether it is a traditional classroom course, a hybrid course, or a course that is entirely online. It can be used for either 8-week, 16-week, summer or Winterim courses.
Evaluations are sent to students via email; students complete the form and submit, and the central system tabulates the results and sends a completed report to department chairs and their designates.
Online Course Evaluation Schedule (current semester)
| Task | 8W1 | 8W2 | 16W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department Questionnaire Changes Due (optional) | 10/1/2026 | 10/1/2026 | 10/1/2026 |
| Instructor Question Selection Opens (CoBE Only) | 10/8/2026 | 11/27/2026 | 11/20/2026 |
| Instructor Question Selection Due (CoBE Only) | 10/15/2026 | 12/4/2026 | 11/27/2026 |
| Evaluations Open | 10/16/2026 | 12/5/2026 | 11/28/2026 |
| Evaluations Close (11:59 pm) | 10/23/2026 | 12/12/2026 | 12/12/2026 |
| Participation Data Availability Closes | 11/6/2026 | 12/26/2026 | 12/26/2026 |
| Final Report Availability | 10/28/2026 | 12/23/2026 | 12/23/2026 |
Explorance Blue, UWW's online evaluations service, is the primary method for administering course evaluations.
In alignment with University priorities, UWW's legacy Scantron central scanning service through IT Services was retired in August, 2026.
Starting Fall 2026, Scantron TestFlex replaces manual preparation and scanning services formerly handled by IT Services. Faculty and Instructors who used IT Services' Scantron print course evaluations services in the past will have access to Scantron TestFlex.
The Course Evaluation Advisory Group is comprised of a department chair and administrator from each college, a student from each college, CATLST, and Information Technology Services representatives and is convened by the Vice Provost. The group was created to help manage and oversee the online course evaluation process that takes place after each term.
This group will:
- improve communications related to the Explorance Blue course evaluation tool
- funnel issues from instructors & departments to Blue Administrator
- review policies and procedures
- suggest improvements and revisions that benefit the implementation and use of Explorance Blue
- communicate issues & problems to Blue Administrator
- review improvements in response to the issues, and make policy decisions on things such as setting survey deadlines and exceptions to stated policies (e.g., late surveys, opening surveys late for students).
Current advisory group members are as follows:
| College / Department | Members |
|---|---|
| Arts and Communication | Robert Mertens and Eric Appleton |
| Business and Economics | Yamin Ahmad and Nacef Mouri |
| Education and Professional Studies | Lynn Gilbertson and Lana Collet-Klingenberg |
| Letters and Sciences | Loren Wilbers and Susan Johnson |
| Integrated Studies | Tricia Clasen and Jeff Suarez |
| CATLST | Shane Degen |
| ITS | Kevin Behringer |
| Provost Office | Kristin Plessel, Eric Loepp |
| Student Representatives | Amber Greenlees, Abi Leon |
Related Policies & Agreements
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