Student Evaluation Summary: Spring 1999

ROBERT F. MULLIGAN
College of Business
Western Carolina University

This report presents results of a student questionnaire administered with the final exam of ECON 232 Introductory Macroeconomic Theory and Social Issues in May 1999.  Eighty-eight students completed the survey, virtually every student who took the final.  Fourteen students were exempt from the final due to superior performance on earlier tests.  Because these highest-performing students did not participate, the survey probably has some negative self-selection bias.

75% of students self-reported attending 80% or more class meetings, with 66% self-reporting attending 90% or more.  90% of students felt adequately prepared or better for the academic requirements of the course, with 33% highly prepared or better.  10% described their preparation as poor or very poor.

Most students felt they had applied an appropriate effort to learning course material: 94% described their effort as adequate or better, and 44% described it as high or very high.  Most students felt their effort had resulted in learning the course material: 93% responded adequate or higher, with 33% responding high or very high.  Most students acknowledged the validity of test grading, 82% rating it adequate or higher.

Grade expectations and desserts were not dramatically incongruent - 13% of students expected to receive As, but 22% felt they deserved As.  51% of students expected Bs, but 54% felt they deserved Bs.  30% expeceted Cs or C+s, but only 20% felt they deserved grades in that range.  6% expected C- or Ds, but only 0% felt they deserved that grade.  No survey respondents reported expecting or deserving an F.  Only 3% expected significantly higher grades than they felt they deserved.  17% expected about the same grade as they deserved.  59% expected significantly lower grades than they felt they deserved.  17% were unsure what to expect in terms of grades and/or their deserts.

40% of ECON 231 students gave the instructor an A, 47% gave a B.  Only 13% gave the instructor a C or lower.  19% gave the course an A.  51% gave the course a B.  29% gave the course a C or lower.  Students rated the instructor significantly higher than the course.

Student comments:

"Dr. Mulligan gives great advice and is a great professor.  I can't wait to take him in the future."  "He is very personable.  I also liked the fact that he put notes and practice quizzes and tests on the internet."  "I think the course is structured well and Dr. Mulligan has prepared perfectly.  [He has an] understanding of the students' personal attributes, yet teaches responsibility at the same time."  "Dr. Mulligan interacted well with the class and never let anyone get behind if he saw they were willing to put forth the effort."  "Possibly more interaction with the class instead of all lecture.  I love Dr. Mulligan.  He genuinely loves his students, something I rarely see in the College of Business.  I'm not receiving the best grade in the class, C+ at best, but Dr. Mulligan is a wonderful professor and he gives students a number of chances to bring up their grade if they choose to."

"Well organized, lectures give additional information from book information."  "One of the best features was that the class notes were on the web along with practice quizzes and tests."  "Go slower, don't give so many notes in one day and explain the notes before you put them up on the board.  The notes were already on the board a the start of class so many students wouldn't listen they just took notes."  "The tests are extremely difficult.  Too much information to be comprehended in one class period.  He knows his stuff."  "Instructor has a good relationship with students."  "Knows what he is talking about, and how to teach us, as best he can - it is econ.  That is a hard subject to comprehend."  "He's very caring.  He gives a good opportunity for students to raise their grade.  The overall best feature is his policy on his tests."

"Cool as Hell!  Do not get rid of him."  "I think the best feature of this course is the grading policy.  It is very forgiving and offers the student recovery if he/she needs it."  "Possibly more hands-on material to make the course more interesting.  Instructor discusses topics in a very complete manner.  Instructor was very good throughout the year.  He was also very accessible outside of class."  " He was well prepared and knew what he was talking about.  He was a good teacher and allowed the students to open up for discussion."  "Strong enthusiasm.  Offers extra credit.  Cares about students doing well."  "Very approachable and willing to work with students if they come and talk to him."  "Very good professor, good teaching strategy."  "More interactive learning activities.  Material can become boring.  Promptness.  Gives tests back immediately, never late, nor absent."

"Dr. Mulligan is very friendly and personable which made the material easier to learn."  "The instructor was well prepared for the class every day."  "He is a wonderful econ teacher.  He has taught me the material to the point where I remember.  He has done a tremendous job.  Thanks."  "I learned a lot."  "The professor explained information great, and he shouldn't change his teaching style."  "Easy to understand and listen to."

"Only that the material is sometimes confusing, but it is economics, you just have to work at it.  This does in no way reflect on Dr. Mulligan.  He didn't come up with economics.  He does a good job.  Dr. Mulligan genuinely cares for his students.  That is hard to find.  WCU is very lucky to have him as a professor.  He is doing a great job!  I think he is an outstanding professor.  He really cares about us students."  "It wasn't a bad course."

Robert F. Mulligan Spring 1999 End of Course Evaluation

ECON 232 Introductory Macroeconomic Theory and Social Issues (88 students responding)

1.  What percent of class meetings have you attended, as well as you can estimate?
 a.  0%-59% b.  60%-69% c.  70%-79% d.  80%-89% e.  90%-100%
 4%  5%  6%  19%  66%

2.  Before starting this semester, how well prepared do you feel you were for the academic requirements of this course?
 a.  very poor  b.  poor   c. adequate d.  high  e.  very high
 1%  9%  57%  28%  5%

3.  What level of effort have you applied to learning the course material?
a.  very poor  b.  poor   c. adequate d.  high  e.  very high
 0%  6%  50%  38%  6%

4.  How well has your level of effort allowed you to learn the course material?
 a.  very poor  b.  poor   c. adequate d.  high  e.  very high
 1%  6%  60%  30%  3%

5.  How accurately have your test grades reflected your understanding of the course material?
 a.  very poor  b.  poor   c. adequate d.  high  e.  very high
 3%  15%  55%  22%  5%

6.  What final grade do you expect to earn in this course?
 a.  A or A- b.  B+, B, or B- c. C+ or C d.  C-, D+, D, or D- e.  F
 13%  51%  30%  6%   0%

7.  What final grade do you feel you deserve for this course?
 a.  A or A- b.  B+, B, or B- c. C+ or C d.  C-, D+, D, or D- e.  F
 22%  54%  20%  3%   0%

8.  Which of the following is correct for you?
 a.  I expect to receive a significantly higher grade than I deserve.  3%
 b.  I expect to receive about the same grade as I deserve.   17%
 c.  I expect to receive a significantly lower grade than I deserve.  59%
 d.  I am not sure what to expect in terms of a final grade.   17%

9.  What final grade do you feel has been earned by the instructor in this course?
 a.  A or A- b.  B+, B, or B- c. C+ or C d.  C-, D+, D, or D- e.  F
 40%  47%  9%  3%   1%

10.  What final grade would you give the course itself, apart from the instructor?
 a.  A or A- b.  B+, B, or B- c. C+ or C d.  C-, D+, D, or D- e.  F
 19%  51%  20%  8%   1%

Additional student comments are from the departmental evaluation, which was administered about two-thirds into the semester:

"He did an excellent job.  His knowledge of the subject is excellent.  He is a great instructor that is devoted to helping the students."  "Yes, he is a great teacher.  Yes, I have learned a lot."  "Yes he was always on time and got all of the notes accomplished.  It was relatively difficult."  "Yes.  I think that it better prepares me for classes in my major."  "Yes, I have learned a lot and I appreciate Dr. Mulligan's consideration for his students."  "The instructor lectures well.  I have learned a lot about Macroeconomics."  "He explained everything clearly and I understood things.  I see no need for change.  I learned a lot about Macroeconomics."  "Bob did a good job all semester.  Economics is real life, you need it to survive."  "I think the teacher did an effective job teaching the course.  I think the professor could clarify some test questions, but overall did an excellent job."  "[This course] relates extremely well to the business world and overall national policy."  "He always came prepared and covered what needed to be covered."  "He explains and gives good review sessions for those who are having a hard time.  I think Macro is very important for the business environment."  "Information was very straightforward - that is good.  Assign more work."  "He explains to the fullest and I understand it so much easier."  "People need to know and understand what they do that changes the economy.  Interest rates, inflation, bonds, and CDs are all very important and discussed thoroughly in this class."  "The notes and quizzes on the webpage were very helpful.  Now I do have some understanding of the money system and inflation."  "He gets straight to the point of what you need to know.  I had to work hard."  "Examples were used and concepts and ideas were explained fully.  Yes it has helped me to understand things that other classes talk about."  "I like this course.  I can't imagine a better way of teaching it.  Your objectives are implicitly clear.  You provide more help (i.e., on-line practice quizzes and class notes) than any teacher I have encountered.  If some person does bad it is their own slackass-edness."  "He is very effective in his teaching methods."