At the University of Maryland University College, teaching portfolios are used for professional development of adjunct faculty in continuing education, and for determining annual teaching awards. The faculty development program offers workshops, information packets, and sample portfolios to potential award recipients and other faculty, provides…

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.…

A study investigated the relative importance of refereed and nonrefereed publications in faculty tenure and promotion decisions at 26 English-speaking Canadian graduate colleges, faculties, and schools of education. Results show publication in refereed journals as significantly more important than in nonrefereed serials. (MSE)

A survey of 109 faculty in a private university investigated attitudes about merit pay. Results suggest need for changes in the design, implementation, and evaluation of merit pay systems. Recommendations are made for faculty input, accommodation of departmental preferences, group incentives, performance standards, professional development,…

Asserts that the presumption that student evaluation of teacher performance will eliminate poor or below-average teachers is dubious. Maintains that student evaluation is less harmful than peer evaluation. Argues that student evaluation is one of several factors that contribute to the decline of U.S. universities. (CFR)

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…

In response to recommendations from a 1992 accreditation visit, Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC), in Montana, designed and implemented a new faculty evaluation system. The college's Personnel Committee, comprised of seven full-time faculty members and the Academic Dean, was charged with developing the new system, beginning by reviewing…

Intended as a contribution to a workshop discussion on program evaluation in higher education, the paper covers five major evaluation issues. First, it deals with evaluation concepts, explaining the purposes of evaluation; pertinent terms; and the sources of evaluation in public health procedures, the scientific method, the systems approach, and…

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…

A faculty development program instituted in Northeastern University's College of Nursing is described. Operated internally by elected faculty development committee members, the program includes goal setting, evaluation, and related services. Through a series of steps new faculty members plan their professional development and prepare evaluative…

The percentage of universities using student ratings to evaluate teacher performance is steadily increasing, but this method can be abused if it is the sole criterion of evaluation. Recent surveys of faculty attitudes towards teaching evaluation indicate that most faculty members are in favor of systematic evaluation, prefer student ratings to…

The Ohio legislature adopted a Bill calling for an evaluation of the performance of academic programs of state-assisted institutions of higher education. The selection of criteria utilized in evaluation is critical. A list of criterion statements was compiled from materials on hand, from accrediting agency information, and out of the experiences…

A national survey of liberal arts colleges' institutional policies and practices in evaluating faculty performance and classroom teaching, focusing on the changes in evaluation since 1978, is reported. Factors considered, their frequency of use, and sources of information for evaluation are examined. (MSE)

A system of evaluating faculty performance in research and scholarly activity, service, and teaching by awarding points for specific activities is outlined. The point system is used to distribute merit monies allotted by the university. Advantages of the system include predictability, specificity, and flexibility for faculty to develop individual…