Remarks on the practice of class visitation at the college level in English courses are directed toward revealing critical weaknesses of such practice. Examples, drawn from experience, suggest that psychological damage to the instructor often results from direct classroom observation. A more successful approach to evaluation is discussed in terms…

TO EVALUATE THE GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE GENERAL EXTENSION DIVISION AND THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, THE INVESTIGATORS ADMINISTERED A SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE TO PARTICIPANTS, THEIR EMPLOYERS, AND THE FACULTY. PARTICIPANTS WERE SURVEYED BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR COURSES,…

This book is directed to those individuals who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for leadership in school administration. The focus of the text is on principles and theories of administering and improving a school; however, many of the chapters are also relevant for other administrative levels.…

Judicial responses on disclosure of faculty peer evaluation records in employment discrimination litigation are reviewed, and the competing interests of faculty, plaintiffs, and universities are examined. It is argued that existing mechanisms to protect confidential peer review materials are flawed by not accurately measuring the plaintiff's need…

Reed College uses a junior qualifying examination, which can take a number of forms, a senior thesis based on the subject chosen for the junior exam, and an oral exam based on the senior thesis to monitor student preparation and measure the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum and instruction. (MSE)

Gloria, a first-year principal at Sunflower High School, sighed as she stared at her computer screen. She had been asked to write letters of reference for three teachers who were leaving her school. The first resigned among rumors of misconduct with a student--but before an investigation began. The second was asked to resign after a school…

The college or university academic affairs committee of the governing board holds the primary responsibility for defining, overseeing, and modifying the "policies" that fulfill the institution's academic mission, including: ensuring that the academic program is consistent with the institution's mission and strategies; ensuring that the academic…

Urges community college division heads to be aware of their legal rights and responsibilities and develop policies guaranteeing students' contractual and constitutional rights. Discusses litigation in academic affairs; the need for well-developed syllabi; course, program, and faculty evaluation; liability for negligence; testing and advising…

Analyzes the results of a questionnaire given to psychology departments offering doctoral programs. The survey asked department chairs to identify pedagogical responsibility and training components for teaching assistants and to rate teaching assistant supervisors. Includes a statistical analysis regarding specific teaching functions and training…

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…

A study examined 634 medical students' ratings of 126 attending and 152 resident physicians' teaching to prioritize specific skills needing focused faculty development. Results indicated students can discriminate between more- and less-effective teaching behaviors. Attending physicians were less effective at communicating goals than other teaching…

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.…

Maintains that many psychologists employed outside of research institutions are unfamiliar with traditional career strategies utilized at smaller colleges. Offers representative strategies from the traditional areas of faculty performance and evaluation: teaching, scholarship, service, and working with students. (MJP)

The faculty peer review program at Ohio State University's College of Dentistry involves evaluation by a committee of three or more tenured colleagues for mandatory tenure decisions. Evaluation assesses course materials, lecture/seminar teaching, clinical/laboratory teaching, and instructional development. Faculty also evaluate the evaluation…

Evaluation research has established that college student ratings of faculty are reliable, valid, and widely used. However, resistance continues. Minimizing this resistance is crucial, and designating an influential change advocate within the institution can influence acceptance of a new system. Research on institutional contexts for evaluation…