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Blue - Overview [UW-Madison]
What is Blue?
Blue is a digital course evaluation system which will be used at UW-Madison beginning in Fall 2025.
UW–Madison is undergoing a multi-year transition from HelioCampus Assessment and Credentialing to Blue, for digital course evaluations. Some courses will begin using it in Fall 2025, but the most courses will be asked to start transitioning to Blue in Spring 2026, with the goal of everyone using the tool by summer 2026.
For more information, see the Course Evaluation Tool Transition Project.
Tool Functionality Details
The new course evaluation aims to enhance the experience for both instructors and students, while also providing greater insights into teaching and learning at UW–Madison.
Blue will help campus advance the student evaluation of teaching (SET) process by:
- Providing improved usability
- Streamlining student access
- Prioritizing accessibility
- Mitigating bias
- Helping increase response rates
- Offering enhanced reporting, including advanced analytics for actionable insights
- Reducing administrative work
The SET process is vital for shaping curriculum development, advancing teaching and enhancing student learning. Ultimately the process supports campus’ teaching excellence and student success.
Getting Started
For training information and how to get started, see Blue - Getting Started [UW-Madison]
Additional Resources
More resources will be coming soon, including:
- Training Workshops: Hands-on training workshops will be offered to help familiarize departments with the new system.
- KnowledgeBase Articles: Documentation will be available for instructors and staff to consult, as needed, as they make the transition and start using the new system.
- Dedicated Support: UW-Madison support staff will be available to answer questions and provide technical assistance throughout the transition period.
- FAQ Guide: A FAQ guide will be available, addressing common questions and issues.
- Feedback Opportunities: After the initial training and implementation, instructors and staff will have opportunities to provide feedback about the new system. The feedback will be used to refine the system and offer additional resources or adjustments, as needed.