In a 2014 study titled “An Evaluation of Course Evaluations,” researcher Philip B. Stark concluded that “the common practice of relying on averages of student teaching evaluation scores as the
Part-time faculty have long been a part of higher education, particularly at community colleges, where they have grown in numbers beginning in the 1970s. They were not commonly represented in
We need better data describing what’s happening in classrooms. Faculty’s and students’ descriptions aren’t always that accurate. End-of-course rating data is highly judgmental. Classroom observation by outsiders happens irregularly, is
When I began my career in higher education as an adjunct faculty member more than 18 years ago, there was very little adjunct faculty support, guidance, or evaluation, even though
Given the costs associated with hiring and retaining faculty members, it’s helpful to have detailed data on faculty retention, promotions, and separations. The problem is that this data is not
The use of contingent faculty continues to increase throughout higher education. Given the important role they play, it makes sense to consider what can be done to improve their working
Being a department chair means having to handle a diverse array of legal issues, including academic freedom, harassment, student privacy, and personnel matters such as termination and denial of tenure.
As demand for accountability increases, students’ willingness to participate in surveys appears to be decreasing, making it more difficult for faculty and staff involved in retention work to improve their
In 1999 Iowa State University’s faculty senate approved a post-tenure review policy that required each tenured professor to be reviewed at least every seven years, but without a method of
With part-time faculty now the majority of instructors at most higher education institutions, it’s important to provide them with the support they need to succeed. But what kind of support
