The TRACE survey includes several questions that students answer with free-form comments. These comments are accessible to students as an aid to choosing courses and instructors. Student comments must conform to Northeastern’s appropriate use policy (Acceptable Use Policy).
Steps taken to ensure that comments are appropriate
- Faculty are able to review their own evaluation reports, including student comments before they are published to the university community. Generally, faculty have access to their own results one day after grades are due through MyTRACE on their MyNEU portals. This web application allows faculty to customize, export, and/or print their reports. After reviewing student feedback from TRACE, faculty may check the box in comment reports to request redaction of any comments that harass, threaten, defame, slander, or otherwise fall outside the appropriate use policy. These requests are reviewed by The Provost Office.
Student comments will be considered for redaction if they:
- Appear to evaluate the instructor on criteria not related to her/his teaching performance and/or on a discriminatory basis. The University’s Equal Opportunity Policy affirms that “Northeastern University does not condone discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, genetics, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran or disability status.” (Equal Opportunity)
- Raise allegations of professional impropriety (including harassment or discrimination) on the part of the instructor. Such allegations may be redacted and referred to appropriate University authorities for investigation.