A decade of interest in the evaluation of college teaching has produced both a wide variety of approaches and a concise set of practical guidelines for assisting college teachers in improving instruction. (Authors/MSE)

This paper considers the viability and applicability of student learning outcomes used as a measure of professorial productivity. While student learning outcomes need to be assessed in order to evaluate faculty productivity, examination of student learning as a concept reveals the difficulty of finding consensus on how to define it. The issue is…

Argues that college faculty evaluation policies, procedures, and criteria emphasize technical rather than substantive aspects of teaching, focus on process over outcomes, lack strategic concern for institutional use of evaluation data, and deemphasize discipline. Recommends evaluating three aspects of teaching (planning, implementation, results),…

Multidimensional rating forms used for college student evaluation of faculty elicit information that can be used to evaluate the dimensions of instruction either separately or globally. Portions of the information may be useful for formative evaluation, but global items are best for making personnel decisions. (MSE)

This article argues that the concept of the college student as consumer, and adoption of quality assurance approaches embraced by business, are alien to the nature of higher education. Academic peer review is seen as more appropriate to the university culture and more comprehensible to teachers and researchers. (MSE)

The current approach to research, teaching, clinical service, and administration at academic health centers is reviewed, and the traditional values underpinning this approach are challenged. A new form of faculty management that matches the individual faculty member's priorities and skills with the health center mission and which focuses on the…

This paper reviews the literature on academic quality programs and examines issues faced at one institution in which two initiatives emphasizing student outcomes and faculty performance as indicators of quality are underway. In its review of the literature the paper focuses on concepts such as total quality management, peer or student evaluation…

Discussion of the evaluation of university faculty compares assessment that leads to judgment of performance (summative) and appraisal concerned with providing useful feedback (formative). Characteristics of each approach are considered, including purpose, criteria, review procedures, evaluators, recipients of results, timing, and follow-up.…

Evaluation research has established that college student ratings of faculty are reliable, valid, and widely used. However, resistance continues. Minimizing this resistance is crucial, and designating an influential change advocate within the institution can influence acceptance of a new system. Research on institutional contexts for evaluation…

Research indicates that colleagues, administrators, students, and alumni have all identified similar general characteristics of effective college teachers and teaching and can make valid evaluations of individual teachers. A proposed process for identifying teaching award winners has two stages: (1) nomination using a rating and description form;…

Applies the theory of planned behavior to understanding faculty attitudes regarding the provision of academic adjustments to students with disabilities. Examines the behavioral, normative, and control beliefs that underlie the components of the theory to provide information about appropriate methods of intervention to positively influence faculty…

This paper examines how institutions of higher education might operationalize faculty performance evaluation in terms of research, teaching, and university and community service. An analytic hierarchy process model is developed and presented, allowing decision makers to couple performance evaluation and academic reward/awards and recognitions…

As a consequence of the suspension of a system of yearly evaluations of individual courses with student questionnaires, the University of Leuven organised a broad consultation of the academic community focussing on what they expect from a system based on student feedback. The study revealed that this community attaches great importance to a clear…

A faculty evaluation study conducted at Memorial University of Newfoundland for the Committee on Faculty Evaluation is described. Evaluation criteria/methods and recent research findings regarding student ratings of faculty instruction are considered, along with the advantages and disadvantages of formative and summative evaluations. Formative…

The document presents partial recommendations of a Pennsylvania State University Study Group on the Status of Women at the University. Recommendations concern job assessment and evaluation, recruitment of women faculty, part-time benefits and compensation, and recruitment of women administrators. Among specific recommendations are the following:…