What are the equity stakes in student evaluations of teaching (SETs)? And how are these stakes intensified for minoritized contingent faculty in a two-tiered faculty system? This question is particularly salient given that today half of the instructional workforce is part time, with another 20 percent serving in full-time contingent roles. Because of the tenuous status of these contingent faculty appointments, student teaching evaluations can assume disproportionate impact. Due to a lack of employment security and often semester-to-semester appointments, SETs can weigh heavily in reemployment decisions and career progression.
Not Just a No-Show: Understanding Faculty Absence at Graduation
Each spring, university campuses are spruced up: Lawns are mowed and stages assembled, and rows of chairs fill the arena. Graduation is a time-honored tradition, celebrating students’ hard work and
Heidi Hillman
July 21, 2025
