Evaluations by Students

On March 5, 1973, and amended on May 2, 1994, the General Faculty, acting on a recommendation from the Personnel Council (now the Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Faculty Development Committee), adopted a policy requiring standard student evaluations of each faculty member's courses. On March 29, 1999, the procedures and forms for obtaining student evaluations were revised by the faculty and are attached here as Figures V.1 and V.2. The primary purpose of this policy is to facilitate improved teaching effectiveness.

Evaluation forms are completed by students and held in the Office of the Registrar until final grades for the course are turned in by the faculty member. This provides

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students with assurance that their grades will not be affected by their responses.

Annually, after reviewing the evaluations, each faculty member should prepare a summary and file the completed forms with his or her supervisor. The forms must be kept on file in the Department or School office for a period of three years and must be made available upon request of the Promotion and Tenure Committee.

Figure V.I

To: Faculty

From: Jonathan Green

Re: Course and Instructor Evaluation Forms

Enclosed you will find a sufficient number of course evaluations for your current

semester classes. Please look over the following information about procedures carefully.

PROCEDURES : It is expected that all courses you teach will be evaluated unless there are difficulties or circumstances that cannot be overcome. Students are clearly interested in participating in course evaluations. Please provide your students the opportunity to complete and submit their evaluations. Summaries of these evaluations by supervisors and faculty will be required as part of the self-evaluation and supervisor evaluation process.

1. Use the evaluation form provided for all your courses. Faculty wishing to include additional instructor’s option questions are free to do so on an additional page.

2. Faculty members should set aside class time during the last two weeks of the semester to administer the evaluation. It is suggested that the date of the questionnaire administration be announced prior to the actual date in order to encourage the largest possible response. Faculty waiting until the end of the hour should leave at least 30 minutes for students to complete the form.

3. When you introduce the evaluation process to your students, you are encouraged to explain that the feedback given by students will be used by you to improve your teaching and by your supervisor as part of the faculty evaluation process.

After you have introduced the questionnaire, a student should be assigned to

distribute the blank forms. One or more students should be selected from the class to be responsible for collecting the completed forms in the envelope provided, and returning them directly to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will send you a receipt verifying that the forms were received.

4. Faculty members should absent themselves while students are completing the forms.

5. For tenure-line and tenured faculty, the Registrar’s Office will hold the

completed questionnaires on file until the grades for the course are posted by the faculty member, at which time the evaluation questionnaires will be given to the faculty member.

6. After you have reviewed the completed forms, you are to submit them to your supervisor. Course evaluations will be kept on file in your supervisor’s office for three years, during which they will be made available to you for use in the self–

evaluation process. After three years, they will be returned to you.

7. For adjunct and visiting faculty, questionnaires will be sent to supervisors, who will, in turn, discuss them with the adjunct/visitor. Evidence from these forms must be submitted by supervisors wishing to re-hire adjuncts/visitors.

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Figure V.2

IWU INSTRUCTOR AND COURSE EVALUATION FORM

Course Title ___________________________Course Number____________________

Term: Fall___ Spring___ May___ Year:______

Instructor’s Name__________________________

Please provide thoughtful comments in response to the following questions about the course. You may attach an additional sheet if necessary.

I. Evaluate the Course Design and Content. (Within your response, you may discuss which papers, projects, or other assignments provided the best learning opportunities; which readings were most and least helpful; the usefulness of the syllabus in clarifying course goals and expectations; and the level and amount of work.):

II. Evaluate the Quality of Instruction. (Within your response, you may discuss whether the instructor challenged you; opportunities the instructor provided for student participation, meaningful discussion, and/or student questions during class; the clarity of class presentations or lectures; the extent to which laboratory and/or clinical experiences were effectively integrated into the course; and the connection of class activities to course goals.):

III. Please elaborate on the quality of your learning experience. (Within your response you may address the value of what you learned from the course; how the course may have changed you; and whether it was a worthwhile experience for you overall. Please include any suggestions you have for changes that may enhance the learning experience for future students.):

IV. Please respond to the following questions about the course and instructor according to the scale below.

1 – strongly disagree 2 – disagree 3 – neither agree nor disagree 4 – agree 5 – strongly agree

neither agree

strongly nor strongly disagree

disagree disagree agree agree

The instructor’s expectations were clear. 1 2 3 4 5

The instructor was prepared for class. 1 2 3 4 5

As a student, I was generally prepared for class. 1 2 3 4 5

The instructor seemed genuinely concerned about student progress. 1 2 3 4 5 The instructor was available for help outside of class. 1 2 3 4 5 The degree of difficulty of this course was appropriate. 1 2 3 4 5 The instructor provided meaningful criticism and comments on my

work. 1 2 3 4 5

The instructor treated students fairly. 1 2 3 4 5

The instructor fostered an atmosphere of mutual respect. 1 2 3 4 5 This course has increased my interest in the subject matter. 1 2 3 4 5

The instructor challenged me intellectually. 1 2 3 4 5

Overall, I would recommend this course to another student. 1 2 3 4 5 Overall, I would recommend this instructor to another student. 1 2 3 4 5

V. Optional Background Information

Your Major: _______________________ Your expected grade______Your Gender: _____Female ____Male Your Class: ____Freshman ____Sophomore ____Junior ____Senior

Your reason for taking this course (check all that apply):

_____ Major or minor requirement _____Elective within major or minor _____Interest in the subject _____ General Education requirement _____Elective outside major or minor _____Reputation of instructor _____ Recommended by my advisor _____Recommended by another student

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