Mid-Term Grade Notification Survey

University of Minnesota, Crookston

Spring 2003

• 179 (29%) responses

Total N=592 students who had received at least

one grade notification of “D” or “F” grade

• April 14, 2003

This brief survey is designed to provide information regarding the effectiveness of UMC's Mid-Term Grade Notification process. The information will be helpful in determining changes needed to better meet students' needs. Thank you for your assistance in this important matter.

Please complete the following survey by Friday, April 11th.

You will have the opportunity at the end of this survey to enter your name in a drawing to receive one of two $50 gift certificates from the UMC Bookstore to be drawn at random from those completing the survey. Winners will receive an e-mail notification.

Q.1 How many MidTerm Grade Notification e-mails did you receive?

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
1. 1	54	31.2%
2. 2	97	56.1%
3. 3	9	5.2%
4. 4	8	4.6%
5. 5	1	0.6%
6. None	4	2.3%

Q.2 What specific actions have you taken as a result of receiving MidTerm Grade Notifications? (check all that apply)

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
Studied more	128	75.7%
Made myself better organized	86	50.9%
Contacted course instructor	55	32.5%
Talked to peers	55	32.5%
Made-up work to improve grade	53	31.4%
Completed missing assignments	52	30.8%
Contacted adviser	51	30.2%
Attended review and/or study sessions	41	24.3%
Talked to parent/guardian	36	21.3%
Partied less on school nights	27	16.0%
Participated in a study group of peers	26	15.4%
Obtained an academic tutor	24	14.2%
Contacted Academic Assistance Center/Student Support Services	22	13.0%
Partied less	20	11.8%
Other not listed above	18	10.7%
Withdrew from the course	17	10.1%
Cut back hours of employment	17	10.1%
Contacted Counseling & Career Services	3	1.8%
Contacted First Year Experiences	3	1.8%
Contacted Disability Services	1	0.6%

Q.3 If you responded “Other not listed above”, please state what this was.

• received a tutor for help

• Studied ahead and not crammed like I did for the previous test

• Worked more on the assignments and got help from other students in the class.

• I didn't receive a Midterm Grade.

• Held the course mostr notifications were fine

• I closed the email and went on with my life.

• Nothing.

• we only had one assignment before spring break and my instructor told me that don't worry about my grade now because it will change after spring break, because we will have more in-class assignments.

• i turned in the paper i had out

• Went to every class.

• Got advice from course instructor as well as other instructors which in turn really has helped me.

• 2 of the 3 were from bias points of view and nothing was needed to be done.

• The grade didnt actually reflect what had been done in the courss, only what grades were recorded.

• Attended more classes

• no action

• I have gone to my coach and he has been helping me out

• ?

• My grades wernt that bad so i wasn't worried that much.

• Extra Credit Assingments

• Upped participation in class, Better attendence in classes with lower grades

Sample Answering: 20 responses

Q.4 How did you feel when you received the Mid-Term Grade Notification? (check all that apply)

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
It was a “wake-up” call for me to do something	90	55.2%
Relieved that someone was paying attention	33	20.2%
Shocked because I thought I was doing fine	50	30.7%
Scared that I might lose my scholarship and/or financial aid	20	12.3%
Scared that I might be dismissed from the University	13	8.0%
Worried that my parent/guardian might make me quit college	5	3.1%
Angered that the University was “looking over my shoulder”	1	0.6%
Didn't care	26	16.0%

Q.5 If you received a grade notification that you were earning a "D" or "F" grade, please indicate the reasons, behaviors, or circumstances that may have contributed to this. (select all that apply)

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
Did not study effectively for exams	84	55.3%
Did not understand the materials	73	48.0%
Had personal problems or concerns	54	35.5%
Did not read the textbook	53	34.9%
Did not finish assignments	43	28.3%
Did not prepare for class	34	22.4%
Did not attend class regularly	32	21.1%
Did not utilize tutor or study groups	31	20.4%
Carrying too heavy a credit load	26	17.1%
Assignments were turned in late	20	13.2%
Had health problems or concerns	19	12.5%
Did not participate in class discussions	8	5.3%
Did not take notes in class	8	5.3%

Q.6 Did your adviser contact you (e.g., e-mail, telephone, memo, etc.) regarding Mid-Term Grade Notifications?

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
1. Yes	63	36.8%
2. No	108	63.2%

Q.7 In general, how satisfied are you with Mid-Term Grade Report Notifications?

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
1. Very Dissatisfied	7	4.1%
2. Moderately Dissatisfied	20	11.6%
3. Slightly Dissatisfied	24	14.0%
4. Slightly Satisfied	30	17.4%
5. Moderately Satisfied	67	39.0%
6. Very Satisfied	24	14.0%

Q.8 Where are you living this semester?

Choice	Count	Percentage Answered
1. On-campus UMC residence hall or apartment	94	54.0%
2. Own house	10	5.7%
3. Home of parents or other relative	16	9.2%
4. Rent room or apartment off-campus	52	29.9%
5. Other	2	1.1%

Q.9 Comments or suggestions regarding Mid-Term Grade Report Notifications?

• At least now I know what I need to do in order to get my grade to improve.

• a few of my grades were inaccurate. I was able to get everything fixed and it helped me know what i have to do to achieve my goal for this semester.

• they are a good thing because it gave me a wake up call to do something about my grade

• The grades of some classes did not appear on the notification. The faculty assembly might need to address the importance to all the faculty member.

• My advisor didn't answer any of my e-mails when I had questions about classes. I would really like to know how I am doing during the whole semester and not just at mid-terms.

• I am glad that they are sent out!

• Its a great reminder for students. It boosts up one's attention to school work. The ones on probabtion may finally wake up and work harder and even those with poor grades.

• Some of my classes didn't even give out mid-term grades. That’s frustrating because you don't really know where you are for sure in the class.

• I think they are a good outlook for students to plan for the sedond part of the semester. I think there are too many N/A on the notifications though. Faculty must do more to figure out all of the grades by the midterm time so students know exactly where they stand.

• Have them a little latter on. I think they came out to soon. Also, Some of the advisors need to care more about the students. I have never been contacted by mine.

• the grades that i recieved were a d and a n/a due to the fact that the bulk of class grades were not accomplished at that time. the three classes that i did get a grade in are two B's and an A. the problem is if i was doing poorly in the the classes, dropping the class is past any reimbursment's. however im not concerned I know I can and will accomplish the deficent classes to recieve at least a c grade in them, if not above a c.

• Get Rid of xxxxx (he/she) can't teach!

• I got my grade report about a week later than the rest of the sudents, so there was a period of time when I didn't even expect to recieve it. Other than that it has been exceptional.

• For those who are struggling in a class, Mid-term grade reports could be sent out more than once a semester. Receiving information on your grades makes you pay attention and want to try harder because you faced with that grade, and you cannot just believe you are doing fine.

• They are very helpful in tracking where you are sitting grade wise in your classes. I just wish they would come out more often to keep you posted throughtout the semester so that you have an idea of how you are progressing through the semester grade wise.

• I like having a mid-term grade report sent to me. It makes you realize that maybe I should start getting my priorities in order.

• Some instructors did not have grades available, but it would be better for me if they had some sort of grade so I could gauge the amount of effort needed to obtain my desired grade

• Mid-Term Grade Report's are in the middle, most professers said they wern't a good indicator of where my standing in the class was. Not enought of the class had been completed to give an accurate evaluation at the time. Mid-Terms should be given a week or two latter or a higher percentage of the class grade needs to be possible before Mid-Term Grading. Doing one of those two things would make mid-terms a better indicator of class performance

• Great idea!!

• For question number four, the results may not always be negative. For instance in some of my classes I was doing better then I thought. I did not feel it was a wake up call but I still feel it is important to see in print and to see evidence as to how you are doing. The one class that I was receiving a D in (question number 5) mainly had to do with not being able to understand the teacher. I did my homework and turned in on time, attended every class session, took notes, and read the book. He would sometimes go off on his own tangents, like 10-15 minutes on why cell phones are not to be used during class or why it is important not use internet connection in class.

• They are good, I like being able to read my grades or to be told they are up without having to go look

• It was nice to find out how I was doing.

• The mid-term grade notifications (if I get a grade from my instructor) are usually based on one test and I'm usually told by my instructor that the mid-term grade doesn't mean a thing.

• It's nice to get an up to date record of where I'm standing.

• I wish that we where notified of our grades a little more.

• none

• good system

• I think that getting one notification is good enough.

• i think it was a good thing i got one, i guess i didnt know i was doing bad because i thought the paper was to be handed in later, but now that i handed it in i'm doing fine.

• The process used this semester worked for me. I received two e-mail notifications of my grades. I was lacking in one of my classes. If not for the notification of my grades, I would've fallen terribly behind. It is what i needed to get myself organized and motivated.

• good thing to do.

• Have instructor comments. My mid-term was shown as having a D in one of my classes, when in reality it was not updated so I really had a high C. I think they need to have more information given with them.

• nope

• They are a good idea to have. It helps me out to see where I stand before the end of the semester when it is too late.

• The are useful, most students like the notice.

• I think that it is great, we get to see what is going on with our grades.

• I really like getting the grade notices, and think they should be sent out more than once a semester, i.e. three times a semester. When it comes to your grades, the earlier you know where you are, the better. However, I have three Rhetoric classes over ITV I never receive the grades from. It would be nice to have those classes listed as well, as they are upper division courses that I'm way more concerned about than general classes.

• They are very useful and helpful in preparing for the rest of the semester.

• one or two per sememster is good, juet to help students know how they are doing in their respective classes.

• I think it is a great way for students to judge their own standing in the class and because it is in the middle of the semester, it gives the student the time and opportunity to improve their grade if necessary.

• A more accurate portral of the grade. EX: The overall grade, not just the grade on tests and assignments.

• I am happy with the fact that we get our grades sent out to us. It would be nice to know throughout the semester what our grades are though. And for question number 4--i knew what my grades were so i wasn't suprised, it wasn't that i didn't care about them.

• not all teachers submitted grades, that and the comments could include suggestions for improvement

• The mid term grade reports were good but most of my classes had not had a test or many grades so the mid terms were basically useless. It would me nice to have a place one the site where you could check your grades whenever you wanted and they be updated once a month or whatever it be. It would mean more for me to know what my grades are right now than it did at the mid term when I had no grades.

• They are a good benchmark but I think the main problem is they come out too early and there hasnt been enough classwork done.

• It is very nice to get a notification, but not like 14 in one day.

• I would love to see a little more interest in mid-terms from teachers. Some times circumstances just need to be explained, and things could be a little better understood.

• wish they came out at the 1/3 semester periods. So there would be 2 notifications before finals

• I think they are helpful to know how you are doing

• They are an effective tool in showing you where your weaknesses are and where to improve

• Response to 8 I was living in xxxxx and my neighbor thought it was all right to blast his radio. When I made complaint to staff, they didn't do anything about it until I made several complaints. I have visited a couple others dorms and have been blasted by the radio's. The staff must find this acceptable. I even asked aboout making head phones mandatory but got no response.

• it was very helpful and it really opeaned my eyes but i wish that my academic advisor would have contacted me.

• I didnt get one but i new that i was not doing to good in some of my class's so i steped it up in class's and in my studys

• I enjoy receiving my midterm grades because if I am not doing good in a class it gives me a chance to catch up

• the class i recieved an f in I had already dropped it and it showed up on my midterm report.

• Its always good

• Great to get but all instructors should be consistent and make sure that they have the mid-term grade turned in.

• They are nice as long as all my teachers let me know one way or another what my grade is.

• I enjoy getting these emails regarding what grades I'm getting but only when they are good. Otherwise, when there is a bad grade in there, I'd rather not know how I've been doing because it's really depressing even though I should realize that it'll slap me in the face and tell me to try harder in the class. But overall, they are good.

• They're a good thing and should be continued.

• I think it is good that we get a Mid-Term Report becuase it helps people realize where they stand and see how much more they need to put into the rest of the semester.

• I think that getting one notification is good enough.

• Not all of my professors submitted grades. It really helps me out to know how I am doing in class up to that point. Then I can adjust my study habits to bring up my grades, if needed.

• It would be nice if the notification for FINAL grades were mailed out to the student. I only have e-mail access at UMC and didn't find out my final grades for fall semester until the start of spring semester.

• i think that midterm is too early in the semester all the classes that i had we only had one test at the time of midterm.

• I think that the Mid-Term Grade Report sould be closer to the middle of the term and not closer to the beginning.

• I feel that they are adequate

• I think that recieving midterm grades in our email is a good thing, it really helps me to see where i'm at and what kinds of things I have to do to get my grade up or keep my grade up. I really like that my advisor gets a copy and so then he contacts me and we work things out.

• all teachers should have to release mid term grades i recived only 3 grades in my 5 total classes. the teacher i feel wasnt prepared to pass out the grades and i also wish the quizzes didnt count for as much of my grades as they do

• I was very unhappy with xxxxxx for sending out his/her) midterm in xxxxxx. (She/he) scared the heck out of a lot of students, by only using the test grade as a basis of out midterm grade. I think that if we have to turn our work in on time (she/he) should have to include that when giving us our midterm grade. (She/He) is a very disorganized and lazy teacher so I can see why (she/he) didn't have that figured in the grades in the first place. I just that everything turned in that far should be a part of the grade.

• I think it's a good idea to send these out, so eveyone has an idea of where they stand and whether they need to kick it into gear or what not. Maybe have more comments form the techer, so the student knows exactly what they are doing wrong.

Sample Answering: 71 responses

10. Two names will be drawn at random from those completing this survey and each will receive a $50 gift certificate from the UMC Bookstore. You may enter the drawing by providing your name below. Duplicate responses will be deleted!

First name: _______________

Last name: _______________