Chapters in this edition contain many different approaches and strategies that can be used in individuals to improve teaching. The selections give the reader a variety of perspectives. The chapters from the first edition of this sourcebook have been updated or rewritten, and seven chapters have been added to provide additional information. The…

This handbook contains basic principles for committee members on promotion, tenure, or faculty review committees and discusses basic policy issues related to the assessment of faculty. It also contains disciplinary statements on the work of faculty, useful references and resources, and examples of how to document nonresearch-related scholarly and…

Opinions and recommendations regarding performance evaluations of tenured professors are presented. Some of the arguments in favor of post-tenure evaluation are that it could improve performance, ensure fair treatment, increase motivation, and rid colleges of incompetent faculty. Among the arguments against such a system are that it would defeat…

Evaluating faculty effectiveness is important in institutions of higher education. Although evaluation is inherently threatening to most faculty members, the vast majority take their assignments seriously and want to conduct them as effectively as possible. Assessing faculty performance is a complex and time-consuming process. If it is done poorly…

This study assessed the ways in which academic departments in U.S. colleges and universities are evaluated through a survey of about 130 institutions across the Carnegie university categories. This survey and literature review were supplemented by site visits to eight universities. The authors were surprised to find a great amount of departmental…

Designed primarily as a functional tool and reference book for administrators, this book provides a collection of essays covering various aspects of the performance appraisal of college faculty, administrators, and support staff. The booklet presents practical information on the key concepts, theories, practices, and legal constraints in…

This report argues a case for the use of professional teaching portfolios by educators in higher education, advances a point of view about portfolio issues, and offers examples of portfolio entries. A work-sample-plus-reflection model is presented as a guide for what might be included in a portfolio and why it might be used at a particular campus.…

Techniques for improving college teaching are presented, noting higher education faculty are being encouraged to evaluate and improve their teaching effectiveness in the classroom. Traditionally, faculty have relied upon student evaluations as a primary means for assessing and improving their teaching effectiveness. Literature on faculty…

Reviews the literature on colleague evaluation of classroom teaching, discusses issues instructional developers need to be aware of when consulting with faculty on colleague visitation program design, and suggests practical guidelines for instituting such programs. (11 references) (MBR)

This paper describes the development and implementation of a teacher reward system based on merit that was used at the University of Nebraska. Explained are the organizational set-up of the program into operational groups and their responsibilities and the steps taken to establish interest and commitment in the project. Also discussed is the…

This paper addresses the problem of how teaching performance should be evaluated and rewarded and examines how a University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Project FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education) has helped to improve the climate for teaching and the processes for recognizing and rewarding excellence. First, the paper examines…

Provides normative data regarding the use of certain verbal behaviors manifested by college teachers. Indicates that usage of humor, self-disclosure, and narratives by college teachers was frequently relevant to course content and used to clarify course material. Suggests that award winning teachers used these same behaviors in relation to course…

Discusses the need for inspired teaching and presents eight pointers for the improved performance of college instructors: cultivate general knowledge; plan classroom activities in advance; treat students as adults; provide personal attention; base instruction on personal experience; develop a sense of humor; communicate with colleagues; and…

A well-conceived system of performance appraisal can indicate the conditions and circumstances motivating individual faculty members to improve their teaching. The performance appraisal system must be sensitive to the different ways in which faculty members fulfill their professional goals of teaching, research, and service. The system needs to…

This book examines the debate around posttenure review and suggests a model for faculty development that combines posttenure review with faculty assessment and development. The book addresses issues such as: what is faculty development; types of posttenure faculty development programs; designing development strategies; and what are the…