AEFIS Academy
AEFIS Academy is the main resource available on using any of the tools or features in AEFIS. If you are new to using AEFIS, be sure to click on and review the New to AEFIS? Getting Started! section. In addition, there are User Guides, What's New? (Release Notes), FAQs and a Request Support page all with easy search capability and a user friendly interface.
Logging Into AEFIS
AEFIS is accessible through the AEFIS link on the RPInfo page under the Faculty and Staff Resources category. Login is through RPI Central Authentication Service (CAS) with RCSID (e.g., foderm) and RCS Password (Rensselaer email/network password).
AEFIS Support/Training Options
- For technical support questions, email the AEFIS Technical Support Team.
- For internal process, account questions, or training, email the Rensselaer AEFIS Support Team.
New to AEFIS
If you are new To AEFIS, visit the New to AEFIS? Getting Started! section to review how to log in, navigate, search, and review the specific dashboard screens based on your user role as faculty, administrator, or student.
Syllabus Tool
Adding Course Syllabus Content
Course syllabi must be completed and published two weeks after the first day of classes for the term. AEFIS will automatically publish all syllabi 3 weeks after the first day of classes for the term. Once courses are published, students will be able to review the syllabus in the AEFIS interface. In addition, the public URL that is available will display all syllabus contents. The URL for the syllabus in AEFIS can be copied and shared in any tool (LMS, email, or websites).
Below is a link to a series of general videos produced by AEFIS on creating course content for a syllabus. A description of each video is noted below along with what roles are for each video:
- How to Create a Syllabus Template (Institute Administrator Role) - this video is for the AEFIS Administrator in creating the institute wide syllabus. This video would not need to be reviewed by Course Coordinators or Instructors.
- How to Add CLOs & Syllabus Default Content to Courses (Course Coordinator Role) - this video is for Course Coordinators to review to understand how to add CLOs and Syllabus Default content to courses. This video would not need to be reviewed by instructors.
- How to Add Syllabus Content from the Instructor Role - this video shows the process for instructors to add syllabus content each term.
AEFIS Training Video Link for Described Videos Above: AEFIS Adding Content to Course Syllabus Training Videos
Rensselaer's Syllabus Training Webinar Recording - September 2020: Adding Syllabus Content as a Course Coordinator and Instructor Role
Additional Documentation: AEFIS Academy Course and Syllabus Management Guide
Course Evaluations
Adding Additional Course Evaluation Questions
Two weeks before a Survey Collection Period begins, faculty receive an email notifying them that the survey will be opening soon for the students and that they have time to now add additional questions to their course surveys. This is an optional feature. Several question types are available: multiple choice (single or multiple answer), text/memo, true/false, and drop down select. Questions must be added the day before the survey opens otherwise, they will not be included in the survey.
Important Note
When creating an additional question the instructor will need to select the course evaluation for this question to display. For all schools except the School of Engineering the selection will always be End of Term. For those instructors in the School of Engineering, when creating additional questions, choose if this question is for Mid-Term or End of Term course evaluations. The question can display for both but be sure to make the correct choice so the question displays as expected.
In addition, please be aware that if a course has more than one instructor, it is considered a team taught course and the instructors would collaborate on the questions they would like to ask the students. The added questions in a team taught course would show on each instructors report. In team taught courses, these questions would not be specific to them as an instructor.
- Steps to Add Additional Questions to Your Course Survey
- Video Tutorial on How to Add Additional Questions to Your Course Survey (11:46)
Viewing Response Rates
While a survey is open, faculty and administrators can view the current response rates of their school, department, or course depending on their role. Below is a video tutorial on how to view the response rates:
Faculty & Administrators
Running Course Evaluation Reports
Below you will find specific reporting information that is beneficial to our Rensselaer community. Please be aware there is an AEFIS Analytics Guide available which offers more information on reporting depending on user role.
Administrators Only
- Video Tutorial on How to Review Survey Response Rates Using the Survey Menu Item (5:13)
- Video Tutorial on Running the Course Evaluation Analysis Report (7:18)
Faculty Only
- Accessing Course Evaluation Results from the My Course Evaluations Widget
- Video Tutorial on Accessing Course Evaluation Results from the My Course Evaluations Widget (8:55)
Faculty & Administrators - Running Reports from the Report Widget/Dashboard
Analysis of Student Course Evaluations by Instructor Report - this report displays a course summary of the responses for each question in the survey.
- Running the Analysis of Student Course Evaluations by Instructor Report
- Video Tutorial on Running the Analysis of Student Course Evaluations by Instructor Report (7:43)
Course Section Trend Analysis Report - the strength of this report is that it allows for comparison across schools and departments. Depending on the user role, various aggregate summaries can be reviewed. This report only compares numerical data and does not work with open ended questions.
- Running the Course Section Trend Analysis Report
- Video Tutorial on Running the Course Section Trend Analysis Report (6:01)
Student Course Evaluation Comments Analysis Report - this report pulls out only the open ended questions response data.
Student Course Evaluation Metric Trend Analysis Report - this report will display only the metric questions (overall instructor and course) results for course(s) selected.