What is AEFIS?
AEFIS (Assessment, Evaluation, Feedback & Intervention System) is an assessment management platform (created by AEFIS LLC) that supports individual student assessment, facilitates curriculum review, and streamlines campus-wide accreditation processes. UW-Madison has entered into a multi-year partnership with AEFIS LLC to provide a campus-wide digital course evaluation survey tool, which is part of a suite of digital learning assessment tools.
The Wisconsin School of Business primarily uses it for creating, distributing, and managing digital course evaluation surveys.
Training and Support
AEFIS training is provided for free by DoIT's Academic Technology group. Their website provides a list of upcoming training opportunities. You can also be notified of training opportunities, updates to the platform, and planned outages by joining the AEFIS Users Group.
Support is handled internally by emailing Academic Affairs Help . They may reach out to Teaching and Learning (WSB) or Learn@UW-Madison (DoIT Academic Technology) for additional support depending on the nature of the request or issue.
Overview of the Course Evaluation Process
Instructors are expected to reserve time in class for students to complete them. The system is mobile friendly, so they can use a phone, laptop, or other device of their choice. Nearly 100% of WSB students have their own laptop, notebook, or phone to use for their evaluations. Instructors shall not award bonus points or use any other incentive for students to complete the evaluation.
The end of semester evaluations are required of all instructors and will be used as part of an instructor’s performance review. You are also encouraged to consider soliciting feedback during the semester to address any changes that can be implemented for your current students. If you would like assistance with mid-course evaluations, please contact WSB Academic Affairs help desk ( acadmicaffairshelp_wsb@wisc.edu ).
The following is a brief review of how AEFIS integrates with courses:
- Instructors will receive an email notification three days before evaluations are sent to students. This applies to end-of-semester evaluations as well as midterm evaluations. Departments may elect to do midterms for some or all of their courses. These surveys are usually sent out to students between weeks five to seven of the semester.
Students will also receive an individualized email with a link to the evaluation, although they can also access it via their Student Center.
- When the instructor's message is received, instructors should communicate to students that the course evaluation process will occur in class at a planned future date and that a device (smartphone, tablet, laptop) is required on that date.
- It is important that the evaluation be conducted during class time, typically devoting 10 minutes to the process. This is a best practice to capture the highest yield rates.
- The evaluation is live for one or two weeks, depending on the length of the course. If a student is absent for the class period when evaluations were completed, the student will receive a reminder email every 3-4 days either until they complete it or the course evaluation period is over.
- Instructors will get an email from the AEFIS service with instructions for accessing evaluation results approximately two weeks after grades have posted.
- Online classes will be evaluated as they always have been.
Please remind/encourage your students about the importance of filling out the evaluations.