Frequently Asked Questions (For Students)
- What is the SFQ?
- Where can I find SFQ?
- Why do I have to complete the SFQ surveys?
- Why should the evaluation deadline be set before the final examination?
- If I mistakenly submitted a wrong evaluation for a course, can I rectify it?
- Why was I asked to complete an SFQ for a course right after the first lesson?
- Can the course instructors find out what I fill in the SFQ?
- Do the instructors have access to the SFQ results BEFORE they have assigned grades?
- What would happen to the data after I submit them?
- If I miss the SFQ survey deadline, would it be possible to allow me to make a late submission?
A: SFQ is a set of simple questionnaires to collect feedback from students about their learning experience in courses they have taken.
Q: Where can I find SFQ?
A: You can access to SFQ via different means:
- Login Canvas (https://canvas.ust.hk/) and go to “SFQ” section;
- Install HKUST iLearn app ( iOS / Android ) on your smartphone / tablets and run the app.
- Access SFQ Mobile Website (http://sfq.ust.hk/mobile/) using mobile devices.
Q: Why do I have to complete the SFQ surveys?
A: Doing SFQ surveys is actually a student's right and privilege. Hence, it is highly recommended that students should take advantage of this right and fill out the SFQ to let the University knows what they think about their courses. Only students can tell the University how effective a course is for their learning.
Q: Why should the evaluation deadline be set before the final examination?
A: Under the current university regulation, the SFQ survey should be conducted prior to the final examination. This is to prevent the SFQ survey result from being affected by the difficulty level of the examination.
Q: If I mistakenly submitted a wrong evaluation for a course, can I rectify it?
A: After you have completed an SFQ survey and submitted it through ASSET, it is not possible for the system staff to find the record you submitted and remove it since the submission for student feedback in ASSET is anonymous. What happens is when a student submits a student feedback for a course, ASSET will place the data from that student into a data pool mixed with the data from other students in that section, hence it is not possible to find out record the student wrongly submitted. The student concerned can consider either informing the department concerned of the incident or send to OIR a correct evaluation of the section, which can be passed to the department anonymously.
Q: Why was I asked to complete an SFQ for a course right after the first lesson?
A: This might be because the course concerned lasted for only one week. Students are usually given at least one week to submit their evaluations of a course. In this unusual circumstance, the survey period is usually set by department offering the course. Once the survey period is set, ASSET will automatically send emails to remind students once every 3 days to encourage them to complete the survey.
Q: Can the course instructors find out what I fill in the SFQ?
A: All SFQ survey submissions are anonymous. What you fill in the questionnaire is mixed with those of other students in the same section. The instructor will not be able to find out how you rated or commented him or her. He or she only has access to the feedback from the class as a whole.
Q: Do the instructors have access to the SFQ results BEFORE they have assigned grades?
A: No, they have to submit all the final grades before the SFQ report is released to them.
Q: What would happen to the data after I submit them?
A: The data are stored in a database maintained by OIR. Details reports are sent to instructors and department heads. A summary SFQ report is made available to students through Canvas.
Q: If I miss the SFQ survey deadline, would it be possible to allow me to make a late submission?
A: Since the SFQ survey is a large scale operation involving over 1000 sections each semester, allowing such late submissions will create significant delay in releasing SFQ survey results. However, students can consider sending their comments about the course to the department directly or to OIR, which will then be forwarded to the department anonymously.
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