In both Week Four and Week Eight (Semester One 2020/21) the University is asking all students (UG, PGT and PGR who are not on distance learning programmes, in suspense or writing up) to complete a very short questionnaire about their overall experience of studying at Bath in these difficult times. This is an opportunity for students to provide anonymous feedback about their learning and teaching (or research) as well as their wider student experience. Students' comments should be constructive and in line with the University Dignity and Respect Policy.

This is your opportunity to provide anonymous feedback about the your educational and wider student experience. This helps us to know what works well and what we could improve.

Thank you to the thousands of you who have already completed the Wk4 Check In Survey. This feedback have been great in enabling academic departments to improve their response to COVID-19 and how they have implemented the Bath Blend.

The Covid-19 Check In Surveys 2020/21 will be open between the following dates, with the questions indicated below:

Week Four

Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October

• I am satisfied with my experience at the University of Bath this academic year.
• Thinking about your whole university experience this academic year, what is working well for you?
• Thinking about your whole university experience this academic year, do you have any suggestions on how we could improve?

Week Eight

Monday 16 November to Monday 23 November

• I am satisfied with my education experience at the University of Bath this academic year.
• Thinking about your education experience this academic year, what is working well for you?
• Thinking about your education experience this academic year, do you have any suggestions on how we could improve?
• I am satisfied with my wider university experience at the University of Bath this academic year.
• Thinking about your wider university experience this academic year, what is working well for you?
• Thinking about your wider university experience this academic year, do you have any suggestions on how we could improve?

• What are the Covid-19 Check In Surveys? These surveys are two additional very short questionnaires enabling you to give feedback on your educational (learning and teaching or research) and wider student experience during this difficult year for everyone. They give you the opportunity to have your say on the experience you are having whilst you study and carry out research at Bath.

• Why should I complete the Covid-19 Check In Surveys? The success of your experience in part is a direct result of student feedback through 'stop, start, continue', your Academic Reps, the departmental focus groups and surveys and the hard work of academic and professional services staff to adapt during the pandemic. Completing these two additional surveys also helps you reflect on your own experience, highlight where things are going well and where we could improve.

• What happens with my feedback? Staff will use the feedback from the Check In Surveys , especially the open comments, and other sources of student engagement to make changes to the content, delivery and assessment of your educational experience here and now for you, our current students. This is done in partnership with students wherever possible.

• Does the University really value student feedback? Yes. The engagement of students and the feedback you give is crucial to us providing the best possible educational and wider student experience this academic year at Bath. To make your time here better, we want to hear what you have to say and to work with you to make positive changes.

As you know from your own work, constructive and useful feedback has a few characteristics:

• It is honest - tell us what you really think, not what you think is going to sound best or what others might be saying. Remember that your feedback is completely anonymous too.

• It is specific - use examples to emphasise points and make your feedback clear with as much relevant detail as possible. For example, a helpful comment is: “The lecturer can sometimes be dismissive of questions and rushes through things, making it hard to follow and puts me off participating in discussions.” Less helpful is: “The lecturer’s style isn’t very good.”

• It is respectful - always tell us what you genuinely think but remember that what you have written will have an impact on the person reading your comment. Your comments must be in line with the University’s Dignity and Respect Policy otherwise action may be taken.

• It is solution-focussed - the best feedback makes suggestions and gives ideas about what can be done better or differently next time. For example, a helpful comment is: “It would be better to have more variety in assessment that helps me develop and practice different skills and that are more like the challenges I’ll be facing in my career.” Less helpful is: “There are too many essays.”

• It includes the bad and the good - as well as saying what needs to change or improve, give details of what you enjoyed and what is working well so those aspects can be enhanced and spread to other areas.

• It is about doing better next time - some changes can be made straightaway, but others may take time and staff will want to work with you on those. After having read your feedback and that of your peers, staff will have a much better understanding about the student experience of the unit, so make sure your feedback provides them with a solid base to build on. For example, a helpful comment is: “More resources should be made available electronically, especially anything that is ‘core reading’. Courses should diversify their assessments so we aren’t all trying to revise for exams or write coursework, which count for 100% of our grade, all at the same time.” Less helpful is: “Build another library.”

Remember that constructive feedback will have the most impact.