Concerned about your course?
Davenport University is committed to maintaining a high-quality educational experience for our students. If there is a concern with your instructor or your online course that needs to be addressed, and you have been unsuccessful in resolving the issue with your instructor which is the first step in the process, you may fill out this Course Concern Form . The form goes to the Department Coordinator and not to the instructor.
Potential issues that may be resolved during a session are:
- Missing Instructor – The instructor has been out of the Bb forum for more than two consecutive days.
- Lack of requested feedback - Faculty should be using rubrics and giving detailed feedback so that you know where to improve.
- Feedback lagging more than a week - Doing a full session course in seven or ten weeks, the student needs accurate, timely feedback.
- Faculty member gives full points and no feedback regardless of assignment or requirements - While it may seem good to get an “A”, it is a disservice to students who really want to learn the material and will be detrimental in the long run.
- Faculty tone is inappropriate for maintaining a comfortable, learning environment.
- Faculty changes assignment requirements and due dates without adequate notification.
Issues that can be mentioned in the end-of-course evaluation, but won’t be addressed through this form:
- Course is too difficult - Some courses are more difficult than others. Do you have the prerequisite courses and did you do well in them? Does this subject matter match with your learning style online? The instructor won’t be able to change the course for you personally during the session.
- Course takes too much time for a working adult - Carefully plan your courses. Each course covers two weeks of learning in one. If this isn’t a good time for you to be taking a class, consider other scheduling options. The instructor won’t be able to change the course for you personally during the session.
- An online course should be at your own pace - Online courses are not correspondence courses. There are due dates and deadlines. While it is more convenient to learn at home and not have to drive to a location for a prescribed period of time, online courses are just as demanding and time consuming – perhaps more so.
- You need one-on-one tutoring for this subject with a “live” person – consider your learning style and if online courses are right for you. Do you do better when you can see and hear something explained? For now, if your need is in writing, consider using smartthinking.com or MyCompLab to assist you. As a DU student, you can use any tutoring service at a campus location. You can ask your instructor to meet with you in live classroom in Bb to explain a process verbally, or speak on the phone. You can also make arrangements with classmates to form a study group.
- You don’t care for the textbook or assignments - The instructor won’t be able to change the course for you personally during the session, but do mention this in the final evaluation. Be sure to make suggestions for any changes you would like to see.
- You disagree with a grade you received – If you have discussed the grading with your instructor and you still disagree with the grade you received, once the session ends, you should provide rationale and documentation as to where you were graded incorrectly in a formal grade appeal. The directions and form can be found on the Davenportal. This needs to be completed within three business days of the start of the next session.
