Instructor evaluation surveys offer feedback
Eric Ely
Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: News
Not all student feedback is positive, however; and the instructors are also notified about negative feedback received from the surveys.
"If we do see some feedback where there seems to be some concerns, we will contact the instructors and talk with them about that," said Carter.
"Usually with the intent to improve their performance," Stebbins added.
The results of the surveys have different effects on instructors based on their status as full-time or part-time instructors.
Stebbins explained this difference. "The two groups of faculty are treated differently. They have collective bargaining language in the full-time contract that says here is how you can use those (surveys) and here is how you can't. In the full-time faculty collective bargaining agreement people who are past probation can't have student opinions used against them in a disciplinary way."
The probationary period for instructors is three years as a full-time faculty member. "For probationary instructors those [student survey results] become a part of an ongoing conversation with your supervisor about your professional development," Stebbins explained.
Part-time faculty members can have the results of student surveys used against them in different ways. "For part-time faculty, student feedback is part of their evaluation process," Stebbins said. "It is one element of many that we use in making decisions about part-time faculty."
Apart from the survey results, evaluation of part-time faculty members is based on several other factors. Classroom observation, student feedback, feedback from colleagues and support staff, and the professional development conversations are all components involved in evaluating part-time faculty members.
"There are different forms of student feedback," Carter explained. "We have students who come and talk to us face to face," she continued, "and that could be involved in it as well."
Students at Madison College have many opportunities to voice their opinions apart from filling out the student surveys. They have a number of different ways to raise any questions, problems or concerns they might have with any of their courses or instructors.
"When students are concerned about something in the classroom they are welcome to come to the appropriate center office depending on the course and who the faculty member is and meet with the supervisor about their concerns in the classroom," Carter said.
"The other avenue students have that we encourage them to use is the conflict management services through the counseling center," Stebbins added.
"Our first goal is for the student and the faculty member to come to some resolution," Carter went on to say, "Sometimes we are able to facilitate that, sometimes we count on a service like conflict management services to help to facilitate that."
Appointments for conflict management services can be made through the Student Development Center and there is also a counselor available at the Downtown campus.
"If we do see some feedback where there seems to be some concerns, we will contact the instructors and talk with them about that," said Carter.
"Usually with the intent to improve their performance," Stebbins added.
The results of the surveys have different effects on instructors based on their status as full-time or part-time instructors.
Stebbins explained this difference. "The two groups of faculty are treated differently. They have collective bargaining language in the full-time contract that says here is how you can use those (surveys) and here is how you can't. In the full-time faculty collective bargaining agreement people who are past probation can't have student opinions used against them in a disciplinary way."
The probationary period for instructors is three years as a full-time faculty member. "For probationary instructors those [student survey results] become a part of an ongoing conversation with your supervisor about your professional development," Stebbins explained.
Part-time faculty members can have the results of student surveys used against them in different ways. "For part-time faculty, student feedback is part of their evaluation process," Stebbins said. "It is one element of many that we use in making decisions about part-time faculty."
Apart from the survey results, evaluation of part-time faculty members is based on several other factors. Classroom observation, student feedback, feedback from colleagues and support staff, and the professional development conversations are all components involved in evaluating part-time faculty members.
"There are different forms of student feedback," Carter explained. "We have students who come and talk to us face to face," she continued, "and that could be involved in it as well."
Students at Madison College have many opportunities to voice their opinions apart from filling out the student surveys. They have a number of different ways to raise any questions, problems or concerns they might have with any of their courses or instructors.
"When students are concerned about something in the classroom they are welcome to come to the appropriate center office depending on the course and who the faculty member is and meet with the supervisor about their concerns in the classroom," Carter said.
"The other avenue students have that we encourage them to use is the conflict management services through the counseling center," Stebbins added.
"Our first goal is for the student and the faculty member to come to some resolution," Carter went on to say, "Sometimes we are able to facilitate that, sometimes we count on a service like conflict management services to help to facilitate that."
Appointments for conflict management services can be made through the Student Development Center and there is also a counselor available at the Downtown campus.
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