Reviews literature on the validity of student ratings. Conflicting results are found; both positive and negative correlations have been found between student ratings and student achievement. Most researchers suggest that student ratings be used in combination with other kinds of data about teachers. (MLH)

Individual and institutional/environmental factors that distinguish "vital" professors from a "representative" group of their colleagues were investigated. Of concern was whether the faculty vitality concept discriminates among professors in meaningful ways (i.e., regarding their professional attitudes, practices,…

Changing conditions in higher education have altered the attitudes of many participants in the academic evaluation process, as well as the process itself. The overall result has been a trade-off between more useful data gathering, more informed discussion by the participants, and some diffusion of the decision-making power on one hand; and a more…

Stresses the need for English department chairpersons to gather and present information about teaching, to see that some consistent form of faculty evaluation is maintained, and to work at identifying teaching competence and supporting teaching excellence throughout the year. (GW)

Evaluations by students for their university courses were compared to rankings made by department chairmen of their faculty. Data show only a moderate agreement between departmental chairmen and students when they are specifically evaluating teaching. (Author/KM)

Designed to assess the effects of college student evaluation on faculty performance, this study indicated that instructors who received midterm feedback showed greater gains in student ratings than those who did not. (Author/KM)

Discusses the symbiotic relationship between a professor's academic and professional roles and how, because of this relationship, modern universities accept a faculty member's professional accomplishments in the form of research and publications as an index of his academic excellence. (WM)

Analysis of the data from a survey of members of a university faculty and of student attitudes toward this faculty indicate no relationship between student-rated adequacy of teaching and the extent of a teacher's scholarly activity. Instead, student criteria consisted largely of evaluations of the instructor's style. (Author)

Nine observations on an article published in the September 1982 "ABCA Bulletin" deal with the quality of college-level technical writing programs and the competency of teachers involved in those programs. (AEA)

One institution's expectations of faculty in terms of their professional growth and maturation is discussed. The concept of performance evaluation as a professional development program is reviewed and an annual, individualized faculty evaluation and professional development program currently employed by a college of pharmacy is described.…

Suggests ways of improving the effectiveness of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) in raising the quality of university teaching, including: (1) the wide reporting of more accurate teaching performance indicators; and (2) a revised university funding model in which university income is based on teaching performance indicators. (EV)

A discussion of reward programs to recognize effective teaching looks first at the nature of existing award systems, and outlines key considerations in development of the awards, including aspects of teaching to be honored, evidence on which selections are based, and selection processes. Suggestions made by several award recipients on how to…

Individual consultation over student ratings is recognised as an effective strategy to improve teaching effectiveness. Yet limited financial resources and rising costs in higher education renders this strategy as no longer feasible. This paper explores teacher perceptions on the efficacy of a peer-based model of consultation. It draws on a…

Most college and university administrators claim to care deeply about the quality of teaching at their institutions. But, too often, their actions belie their words. Consider, for example, the following questions. Which candidate for a faculty position is usually viewed as more attractive, the promising researcher or the promising teacher? Who…