Public faculty evaluations still in question
Micah Moore
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
Last spring Shane Henry and Heather Ingle included in their campaign for Student Body President and Vice President a platform item to make faculty evaluations public. However, when discussions began this fall on the issue, it was met with powerful opposition.
The Student Government Association has been working this semester to make student Faculty Evaluation's of Instruction public to view prior to registering for classes.
"Making these evaluations public will increase accountability and the quality of instruction students receive," Shane Henry said.
And many students agree.
"It would do nothing but help faculty performance, because now they would in a sense be held more accountable," Zach Gillean, a junior business and marketin major said "In the past it always seems evaluations are meaningless and the professors know that."
The evaluations may seem meaningless because students do not receive immediate benefit from their evaluation. Having the ability to see what other students tell the university could influence course enrollment rates and potentially affect professors' teaching methods.
The quality of responses might also increase because students would be able to see what feedback their peers gave about professors before registering for classes.
"I would want my knowledge of a specific teacher and my experience in class to help another student when deciding what class to enroll in. That would give me a reason to give more accurate and in-depth responses on the evaluation," Jessica Sickels, a junior exercise and sports studies major, said.
Although it seems that Tarleton stands to gain by making the student evaluations of the faculty public, there is resistance to do so from the Division of Academic Affairs. Dr. Brad Chilton, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs said that the purpose of the faculty evaluation is to improve instruction and it is currently fulfilling its purpose.
According to Chilton, one reason the university has for not making the evaluations public is that Tarleton could be held responsible for any libelous remarks submitted in the open-ended response questions.
The Student Government Association has been working this semester to make student Faculty Evaluation's of Instruction public to view prior to registering for classes.
"Making these evaluations public will increase accountability and the quality of instruction students receive," Shane Henry said.
And many students agree.
"It would do nothing but help faculty performance, because now they would in a sense be held more accountable," Zach Gillean, a junior business and marketin major said "In the past it always seems evaluations are meaningless and the professors know that."
The evaluations may seem meaningless because students do not receive immediate benefit from their evaluation. Having the ability to see what other students tell the university could influence course enrollment rates and potentially affect professors' teaching methods.
The quality of responses might also increase because students would be able to see what feedback their peers gave about professors before registering for classes.
"I would want my knowledge of a specific teacher and my experience in class to help another student when deciding what class to enroll in. That would give me a reason to give more accurate and in-depth responses on the evaluation," Jessica Sickels, a junior exercise and sports studies major, said.
Although it seems that Tarleton stands to gain by making the student evaluations of the faculty public, there is resistance to do so from the Division of Academic Affairs. Dr. Brad Chilton, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs said that the purpose of the faculty evaluation is to improve instruction and it is currently fulfilling its purpose.
According to Chilton, one reason the university has for not making the evaluations public is that Tarleton could be held responsible for any libelous remarks submitted in the open-ended response questions.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Josh Shelman
posted 11/25/08 @ 1:46 PM CST
Tarleton Alum, currently a Graduate Student in Manufacturing Quality and Leadership.
I support the proposal to make teacher evaluations public. (Continued…)
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