Explores the faculty evaluation process at Oklahoma State University using a survey and interviews. Finds support for the judgmental aspects of appraisal but a desire for greater focus on faculty development. Suggests that a combined approach to evaluation, while diminishing the focus of both forms, can have positive results both for faculty and…

The slow rate of promotion of female college faculty relative to their male counterparts is examined from the perspective of "socially expected durations," shifting emphasis from women's assumed shortcomings and constraints to the characteristics of academe's organizational structure. The model is seen as useful for examining other forms of…

Issues in the debate over student evaluation of college faculty are discussed, including appropriate measures of teaching effectiveness, reasons for assessing teaching, reliability and validity of student ratings, and how assessments are conducted. Guidelines for implementing a system of regular, institutionwide evaluations are outlined. (MSE)

A study measured teaching effectiveness by level of agreement between student and faculty perceptions of the teachers' instructional behavior attributes and use of them. Results show little agreement between faculty and students on five attributes. Implications for instructional evaluation and for improving teaching are drawn. (MSE)

Student questionnaires used at the University of Waterloo are examined regarding students' willingness to complete them, variability of professor ratings over time, and usefulness of the responses to the university administration. The greatest value of the questionnaires, from an administrative perspective, is for flagging courses and faculty in…

A new questionnaire entitled "Evalec" (for evaluating faculty lecturing) incorporates principles of both the appropriate teaching-learning model and the students' more subjective dimension. This allows for transformation of student perceptions into constructive advice to the teacher. (MSE)

A discussion of student ratings of faculty looks at problems in measurement and interpretation, including such factors as the ability of raters to evaluate complex behaviors, the salience of personal characteristics in judging task performance, and emphasis on the students as consumer. (Author/MSE)

The influences of class size and the number of students completing surveys on faculty and course ratings were studied. For classes of 30 or more, a 50 percent response rate gives an acceptable indication of rating, while for a class of less than 30, about 80 percent return is needed. (Author/SW)

A two-part study applied the mathematical technique of Data Envelopment Analysis to assess the comparability of self-evaluation and peer evaluation in higher education, for both students and faculty. Focus is on the technique itself: its rationale, prerequisites for use, and insights yielded by the analysis. (Author/MSE)

A study of the relationship between students' evaluation of university instruction and instructors' self-ratings at Tel-Aviv University found only a modest relationship. Discrepancies between teacher and student ratings were not found in relation to teacher training but were found in relation to the amount of teaching experience. (MSE)

The design and use of questionnaires in course and faculty evaluation are discussed and the literature reviewed. Problems of questionnaire construction and interpretation of results are described and a questionnaire developed at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo is given as an example. (Author/MSE)

This paper presents the findings of an investigation of the academic appraisal program at the University of Ulster (Northern Island), used to evaluate the performance of faculty. The evidence reveals inconsistency, tension, and uncertainty about the program and its effects. (MDM)

Faculty definitions of merit are analyzed through 417 recommendations for merit salary awards. The effects of the recommendation writer's academic characteristics on the case made were examined, and it was found that definitions of merit varied by academic discipline and rank, and teaching was generally less valued than research or service. (MSE)

A study of first-year medical students' evaluations of faculty shows higher ratings for teachers following set routines in class. Caring for students and facilitating learning were seen as the most important teacher qualities. Regular, intermittent criterion-based observations were preferred to a single semester rating. (MSE)

A study of 12 award-winning and 87 novice University of Sydney (Australia) faculty found award-winners had more complex and flexible concepts of teaching effectiveness; used a wider range of criteria for evaluating teaching; relied more on personal feelings, peer evaluation, and longer-term student learning; and used more systematic feedback…