College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Faculty & Staff

Student Perceptions of Learning Survey

The goal of the Student Perceptions of Learning Survey (SPLS) is to support high-quality instruction by providing (1) instructors and academic programs with data about student perceptions related to instructional practices to support course improvement in MSU’s teaching and learning environments; (2) instructional supervisors with one source of information for consideration in personnel decisions such as retention, promotion, salary, and tenure in recognition that effective teaching constitutes an important criterion in evaluating personnel; and (3) students with information to guide decision-making related to course selection. 

• There are eight universal questions that are pre-populated and un-editable.
• Each college and/or department can add up to 12 additional questions, if they so choose.
• Each instructor who is listed in the Student Information System - Campus Solutions, including graduate teaching assistants, will receive their individual SPLS results.
• Deans, Department Chairs, and School Directors will automatically receive the SPLS results for their respective unit. No access request is required.

The SPLS is administered through a holistic survey platform that offers advanced reporting capabilities and is managed by the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development.

Institution-level Questions and CANR-level Questions

The university-wide Student Perceptions of Learning Environments Policy stipulates that all MSU students will receive the SPLS with eight institution-level, Likert scale questions. If required by the college, all college-level and/or department or school-level questions shall also be administered to all students.

One of the institution-level questions (Q1) is included for use in analysis of responses. Responses from six questions (Q2-Q7) are available to instructors, graduate teaching assistants, and their respective college and department or school. Responses to four questions (Q2, Q3, Q4, Q8) will be made available to students to guide decision-making related to course selection.

Q1. At the time of enrollment, my level of interest in this course was:
Q2. I understood what was expected of me in this course:
Q3. Overall, the course was well organized:
Q4. The instructor created an atmosphere that supported my learning:
Q5. The course expanded my understanding of the subject matter:
Q6. Course assignments and/or tests provided opportunities for me to demonstrate an understanding of the course material:
Q7. My interest in the subject has increased because of this course:
Q8. Compared to other courses of equal credit, the workload for this course was:

College and Department-Level Questions

At least 12 questions are allocated to MSU’s degree-granting colleges, and each college may in turn allocate questions to departments or schools within their administration. College-level questions are included in surveys for every course administered by a given college. In addition, department-level questions are included in surveys for every course administered by a given department or school.

The following questions are included each semester in CANR surveys due to our shared faculty with College of Engineering:

Q9. What is your overall rating of the instructor as a teacher?
Q10. Please add any general or specific comments you have about the course.

CANR Questions Spring 2025 (removing after spring 2025, departments can choose to include again)

Q11. The instructor provided support (e.g., office hours, respectful, providing accessibility) that contributed to my learning in the course. 
Q12. Online tools and materials, if any, were easy to navigate.
Q13. I feel better prepared for the next stage of my career (e.g. next class, internship, job, soft skills) because of the time I spent in this class.

How to make changes to your department's or program's SPLS questions

Departments/Schools/Institutes within CANR are allocated 7 questions. The SPLS Provisional Question Catalog is a helpful resource for selecting, modifying, or creating questions that address the interests of a particular college, department, or school. Review the SPLS Provisional Question Catalog Preface before accessing the SPLS Provisional Question Catalog. These documents are linked below. On the right you can follow the link to the SPLS questions that are being used by the University and the College so you don't duplicate questions.

Please follow the guidelines below to select the questions for your department/school/institute:

1. Review Survey Purpose and Objectives:

Understand the purpose of the SPLS and its objectives. Determine what insights or data the department aims to gather through this survey.

2. Identify Key Areas of Evaluation:

Identify the key areas or dimensions of performance and learning relevant to the department's goals and responsibilities. These could include skills development, job satisfaction, teamwork, communication effectiveness, etc.

3. Brainstorm Potential Questions:

Brainstorm a list of potential questions that align with the identified key areas focusing on questions in the SPLS Provisional Questions Catalog. Encourage input from teaching faculty to ensure a comprehensive approach. Questions should be clear, concise, and relevant.

4. Prioritize Questions:

Evaluate the brainstormed questions based on their relevance, importance, and potential to provide actionable insights.

5. Ensure Diversity of Questions:

Ensure a diverse range of questions that cover different aspects of performance and learning. Avoid redundancy and aim for a balanced representation within the categories.

6. Consider Survey Length:

Keep in mind the desired length of the survey and the time commitment required from respondents. Aim for a manageable number of questions that can provide meaningful data without overwhelming participants.

7. Review Existing Resources:

Review existing surveys, questionnaires, or assessment tools used within the organization for inspiration and best practices. Adapt relevant questions to suit the department's specific needs and context.

8. Finalize Selection:

Based on the feedback received and the department's objectives, finalize the selection of up to 7 questions for inclusion on the SPLS. Ensure that the chosen questions align with the survey's purpose and will provide actionable insights for performance improvement.

How to submit changes to your SPLS Questions

Each department, school, or institute can change their questions for each fall semester if they choose. Please submit this form by midnight May 23 for questions to be in place for the 2025 – 2026 academic year.