Each semester each student in every course is asked to complete a “UIS Faculty and Course Evaluation” form, a rating instrument containing questions about the quality of the educational experience and the faculty member’s performance in teaching the course. This process is a part of the campus’ well-established tradition of using the opinions and input of students in the evaluation of faculty for reappointment, promotion, and tenure. The evaluation process is confidential, as a student in each class is identified to administer the evaluations, collect the forms, and deposit them in the nearest campus course evaluation lock box. Neither the completed forms nor the printed results of the assessment are seen by the instructor until final grades for the course have been submitted to the Registrar.
The course evaluation packets are prepared in the Provost’s Office and must be personally picked up by the faculty member at the appropriate time. In the unlikely event that a faculty member is unable to pick up their packet personally, they must provide the name of the person who is to pick up the packet to the Faculty Files Supervisor in the Office of the Provost. Course evaluation packets for adjunct faculty may be picked up by the program/department chair or secretary. Faculty members are expected to check the packets for accuracy of the enrollment count on the day of distribution and any extra evaluation forms should be removed from the packet and not left in the classroom. Course evaluation packets should not be left in faculty mail boxes that are publicly accessible.
The completed evaluations are picked up from the lock boxes by the Provost’s Office staff and the results are tabulated. Summary reports on each course are generated with one copy given to the instructor along with the individual evaluation forms. One copy is placed in each faculty member’s personnel file in the Provost’s Office to be used in review processes for the evaluation of teaching. In addition, summary reports provide semester averages for the campus, college, and department/program; these averages indicate how an individual faculty member’s performance compares to the ratings of colleagues. These results are kept on file in the faculty personnel file room in the Provost’s Office, PAC 531.
A cumulative summary report of the evaluations for all courses taught during the review period is generated by the Provost’s Office for faculty who are scheduled for two or four year reappointment review or tenure review, and upon request for faculty who are applying for promotion to full professor. One copy is placed in the faculty member’s personnel file and one copy is given to the faculty member.
Supplemental Evaluations
In addition to using the required standard evaluations, some faculty, departments, and programs develop and have students administer supplemental evaluations of courses and teaching. The supplemental evaluation packets are deposited in the course evaluation drop boxes. After final grades for the semester are submitted to the Registrar, the Provost’s Office distributes the completed supplemental evaluation packets to the appropriate dean for tabulation. Once tabulated, the summary is forwarded to the faculty personnel file.
Alternative Evaluations
The Faculty Personnel Policy requires that alternative evaluation forms be approved by the department/program, dean, and the provost. Request forms are available in the Provost’s office and must be completed and approved prior to use. The completed alternative evaluation packets are deposited in the course evaluation drop boxes. After final grades for the semester are submitted to the Registrar, the Provost’s Office distributes the completed alternative evaluation packets to the appropriate dean for tabulation. Once tabulated, the summary is forwarded to the faculty personnel file.
Online Evaluations
Courses that are being taught online are evaluated by students using the UIS Faculty and Course Evaluation form online. OTEL notifies online faculty when the online evaluation form is available and faculty members then post the notification for their students via blackboard. The evaluations are completed by the students and are automatically forwarded to the Office of the Provost where they are collected and tabulated. Summary reports on each course are generated with one copy given to the instructor along with the individual evaluation forms. One copy is placed in each faculty member’s personnel file in the Provost’s Office to be used in review processes for the evaluation of teaching.
Peer Review
Some departments/programs have developed processes for peer review of the teaching performance of colleagues who have not yet undergone tenure review. Other departments/programs engage in peer review of tenured faculty as well. The results of such peer reviews are designed to supplement the student evaluations by providing a further source of feedback in this case, collegial on the faculty member’s classroom effectiveness.
