Adding Custom Questions or Adjusting Open/Close Dates

 (Developed in partnership with the Faculty Senate and the Provost's Office) 
 

Access Course Evaluations in Watermark using any of the following options:

  1. Via Canvas: Go to Account > Course Evaluations.
  2. Via Direct Link: Access Watermark via this login link.
  3. Via the IRDM’s website: Effectiveness > Course Evaluations.
Note: Log in using your TWU credentials if prompted.
 

INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOM QUESTIONS

*Before adding custom questions, please review the list below of required questions.
 

Required Questions

  1. The instructor satisfactorily responded to questions. 
  2. Communication with the instructor was adequate. 
  3. The instructor assessed course progress by questioning or using other appropriate means. 
  4. The communication of information maintained my interest in the classroom or online. 
  5. The instructor made clear the applications of the subject matter to my major, to other courses, or to my life.
  6. Class assignments (homework, papers, reports, special projects, etc.) facilitated my learning. 
  7. The materials used to support assignments in the course (texts, readings, websites, etc.) were useful. 
  8. I would rate this instructor as an effective teacher. 
  9. What has been the best aspect of this course?
  10. Would you change anything about this course? If so, what would you change?
  
1.) Add custom questions
Step 1: Create the Survey
  1. Click the Custom Questions drop-down and select Custom Questions Surveys.
  2. Click Create a New Survey (top right corner).
  3. Name the survey something meaningful (e.g., SU26_6WK_ENG1013.01).
  4. Under Question Management, click Add a Question > Create New.
  5. Select your preferred question type (Single Selection, Multiple Selection, Matrix, Numeric Selection, Write-In, or Label).
  6. Complete your questions and click Done (top right corner).
Step 2: Attach the Survey to Your Course
  1. Click the Custom Questions drop-down and select Custom Questions Projects.
  2. Select the current semester (e.g., CES_Summer_2026_6WK).
  3. Click Add Survey and select the Custom Questions Survey you just created.
  4. Click Next (top right), select the specific course you want to apply it to, and click Finish & Add.
*Any questions added by the instructor will automatically appear at the end of the evaluation.
 
2.) Edit custom questions
  1. Click Custom Questions > Custom Question Surveys
  2. Click the ellipsis on right of survey you wish to edit and choose Edit > Edit as Copy > Create a new instance of this survey
    1. This will save the survey as a new copy, so you do not impact any reporting.
  3. Click Done to save changes.
  4. You would need to reattach the survey to your course if you had to edit the questions.
 
3.) View custom questions
  1. Click Custom Questions > Custom Question Surveys
  2. Choose which survey you are wanting to view.
 
Default dates for course evaluations
  • Start Date: when about 2/3 of the length of the course is over;
  • End Date: 10 days after the start date for full semesters and 7 days after the start date for shorter semesters.
  • Exact course evaluation start and end dates may vary depending on term, but instructors may log into Watermark directly to view a list of their eligible course evaluations and respective start and end dates.
 
Change the start and end date of evaluations
There are limitations on start and end date edits. For example, an evaluation must be open a minimum of 10 days during a full semester, (and 7 days during a shorter semester). While the dates can be modified, a warning will appear if these standards are not met.

An instructor might change dates if the course ends before the end of the regular term (such as clinical courses that end before finals). The instructor could edit the open and close dates. Open and closed dates are determined by the term; therefore, only a small number of courses would need evaluation date adjustments.
 
  1. On the Watermark dashboard, click Manage Courses.
  2. Click on the hourglass to the right of the course to View > Edit
  3. Choose preferred Start and End Dates using the guidelines below.
  4. Press Save.
 
Information to Share with Your Students
  • Students will receive a Watermark-generated email notification the day the evaluation opens and two days before the evaluation closes.
  • If offering extra credit, the student will receive a confirmation email indicating they have completed their evaluation and can forward that to you. 
 
In addition to this article, the links below provide more information on the following:
 

Need Help?

For additional support, contact the Department of Institutional Research & Data Management (IRDM) at TWU_IRDM@twu.edu.
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