On Friday, January 31, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Erin Sanders O’Leary shared this message via Bruin Post
As part of the Teaching and Learning Center’s (TLC) Modernizing Student Experience Initiative, we are thrilled to announce our transition to Blue, a modern course feedback platform designed to transform how we collect and use student insights from our Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) surveys, formerly known as course evaluations supported by the Evaluation of Instruction Program (EIP).
This renaming reflects a deliberate shift in perspective, recognizing that while students may not be experts in course content or pedagogy, they are essential partners in their educational journey. The move to Blue underscores our commitment to fostering innovative teaching practices and enhancing the student learning experience.
Why the Transition is Happening Now
Scantron, the company that supports our current system, Class Climate, informed us in the fall (2024) that they will cease supporting our legacy instance of Class Climate beyond the 2024–25 Academic Year. As a result, we are accelerating our transition to Blue to ensure continuity and provide an improved experience for faculty and students. The tool is already in use at UCSB, UCSC, and UC Berkeley — allowing us to draw on their expertise to support integration here at UCLA
How Blue Improves the Course Feedback Process
Blue offers improved features for instructors and students, including the ability to incorporate SET surveys into Bruin Learn course sites. Comprehensive reports make it easier to understand and act on student feedback while allowing evaluations to suit a variety of course formats and instructional goals. The greater departmental control offered through Blue provides options for managing survey timing and customizing questions — functions that will be enabled once the migration is complete
What You Need to Know
During Winter 2025, the College of Letters and Science and the International Institute will transition to Blue. Full Blue integration will be completed by Fall 2025. Information and resources to support the rollout can be found on the SET web page.
Instructors and departments transitioning to Blue will receive detailed guidance for accessing SET surveys closer to the transition date. Training materials and one-on-one assistance will be available to support a smooth transition. Units not currently supported by the TLC for SET survey administration but interested in using Blue may contact us for more information.
This initiative is part of a larger effort, including the Holistic Evaluation of Teaching and updated SET surveys, to modernize how we gather and leverage student feedback. Together, these changes support our shared goal of cultivating a culture of continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
We appreciate your support and collaboration as we navigate this exciting transition. Additional updates and guidance will be shared in the coming weeks and months.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email SET@teaching.ucla.edu. If you would like to receive information and updates from the Teaching and Learning Center, please sign up for our email list.