Online course evaluations did not get as much of a response as MSU professors and administrators had hoped.

In the fall, 19 departments put Student Instructional Rating System, or SIRS, forms online for students to evaluate instructors, but less participated than usually complete paper forms in class.

University officials switched to online forms to process information quicker.

"It was a clunky process on paper, and now it's a much more streamlined process," said Patty Croom, student academic records team leader for administrative services.

It is not known how many students completed the electronic evaluations because response rates as a whole were not collected, and departments kept their individual numbers, said June Youatt, assistant provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies.

While some students said they feel obligated to fill out the forms during class, they don't see a benefit to submitting them on their own.

"In class you kind of have to do it, but if it's something that you have to go out of your way to do, no one's going to do that," Japanese and premedical sophomore Gary Moroni said, adding he thinks most students feel that way.

Duncan Sibley, director of Integrative Studies in General Science, said between 35 and 45 percent of students filled out online evaluations for the department in the fall semester. When the Center for Integrative Studies used paper forms, the response rate was around 70 percent, he said.

Because of this decrease, Sibley said he questioned whether the online version was as effective in getting responses as the printed one.

"I want to get to a point where a higher percentage of students in class are responding," Sibley said. "I would certainly like to hear more from students about their evaluation of the course."

Sibley said it's possible students are not filling out as many forms because they think their feedback is not being taken into consideration.

"It's important for students to know we look at these, and we really use them," Sibley said. "I'm thinking the low turnout is because students think we don't care. We do care, and I hope the faculty can convey that to students."

Youatt said the response rate depended on the level of the course.

"Students in upper division courses responded more than lower - graduate students more than undergraduate students," Youatt said. "Upper division courses are smaller, so students may have stronger opinions in instruction and be engaged in the course.

"They may feel a stronger obligation to complete the SIRS."

Whether academic units believe the response rate is adequate will determine if the online forms will be put to use again, Youatt said.