If faculty peer review of teaching is to overcome institutional marginalization, its formative and summative components must use rules, criteria, and standards for effective teaching that are agreed upon by faculty in the academic unit. This conversation clarifies expectations for curriculum, teaching, and student learning. Only such a process can…

A strategy for assisting candidates for promotion is outlined. Teaching, research, and service remain the key criteria for faculty evaluation. Untenured faculty must devote time to research and teaching: developing manuscripts for publication, writing proposals for extramural funding, conceptualizing a program of research, formulating new courses,…

Addresses the relationship between the scholarship of teaching and learning (STL) and faculty assessment. Derives two conclusions: (1) significant opportunities exist for sociologists to contribute to STL within faculty assessment ; and (2) conceptual and empirical STL can be conducted within a sociological framework to improve assessment methods…

Given the public's demand for better teaching (and its indifference to scholarship), one might think there would be a vigorous demand for high quality instructors at all levels of higher education. Instead, the healthiest market remains that for scholars. In this article, the author discusses the differences in the markets for scholars and…

This digest discusses the use of teaching portfolios in higher education, in light of recent criticisms of faculty teaching productivity and the reward structure of universities. Teaching portfolios can be defined as vehicles for documenting teaching (with an emphasis on demonstrating excellence), empowering professors to gain dominion over their…

This book offers information on fostering effective use of teaching portfolios by college faculty. The first chapter, "The Teaching Portfolio Concept" (Peter Seldin), discusses how the teaching portfolio concept differs from other evaluation approaches, what is and is not included in a portfolio, and why the content depends on the purpose of the…

Four strategies that deans and vice-presidents can use to enhance teaching are suggested. The first strategy is to seek out and fund teaching support activities that are the state of the art in each discipline. The second is to reward professors for excellence in teaching more than for excellence in research. Third, administrators should develop…

Significant changes that have occurred in the evaluation of overall faculty performance and classroom teaching performance between 1983 and 1988 are discussed from the viewpoint of a 1988 study that surveyed all accredited, four-year undergraduate, liberal arts colleges listed in the "Higher Education Directory". For years, faculty evaluation has…

Perspectives on the evaluation of college teaching are considered. Some of the conditions that are needed generally include the following: the existence of an evaluation system that has a process for evaluating research and service, a clear definition of the difference between the evaluation of worth and the evaluation of merit, and a separate…

The use of peer evaluation in assessing teaching effectiveness is discussed and two techniques that utilize peer evaluation are explained in this paper. Peer evaluation is viewed as a comprehensive measure of teaching effectiveness and a necessary supplement to student evaluation of teacher performance. It is suggested that this method be carried…

Issues and developments in instructional development and evaluation are discussed including: a comprehensive system of instructional evaluation needs to be established with various components differentially weighted at the departmental level; student ratings should be only one of the components; instructional development consultants should provide…

Miami-Dade Community College, which wants to reward faculty members who devote themselves to teaching, intends to hire professors who want to teach and advise large minority populations and remedial classes. Characteristics of an excellent professor are identified. (MLW)

Recent research on formative and summative evaluation concluded that: (1) student ratings are most common and increasing in popularity; (2) student ratings are reliable; (3) evaluations influence salary, tenure, and promotion; (4) evaluations improve teaching effectiveness; (5) faculty satisfaction varies with institutional context; and (6)…

A series of five self-study seminars, held by eight full professors of an English department for the purpose of post-tenure review and resulting in professional renewal and improved peer relationships, is described and discussed. (MSE)

The teaching approaches and attitudes toward teaching of University of Queensland faculty rated superior under one rating system are examined, including professional and personal skills and attitudes such as subject area competence, ability to communicate knowledge in various classroom contexts, and commitment to facilitating learning in…