Developing a Comprehensive Faculty Evaluation System

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Developing a comprehensive faculty evaluation system involves integrating the technical requirements of good measurement with the political process of building consensus around shared values. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Measurement... is the process of systematically assigning numbers to the individual members of a set of objects or persons for the purpose of indicating differences among them in the degree to which they possess the characteristic being measured. Robert L. Ebel, in “Measuring Educational Achievement”, Prentice Hall, 1965, pp 454-55 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The result of any measurement is a number (by definition). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Measurement tools may achieve high levels of objectivity and reliability i.e., • rating forms • observational checklists • etc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Evaluation... is the process of interpreting a measurement or aggregate of measurements, by means of a specific subjective value, (or set of values) to determine the degree to which the measurement(s) represents a desirable condition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The result of an evaluation is a judgment as to whether the measurement or aggregate of measurements represents a desirable condition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Evaluative Judgments..may be expressed as a words or numbers Excellent or 4.00 Good or 3.00 Poor or 2.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“Positive” (Good) Evaluation.... the judgment that the measurement (or aggregate of measurements) conforms to our value(s) and thus represents a desirable condition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“Negative” (Poor) Evaluation the judgment that the measurement (or aggregate of measurements) is at variance to our value(s) and thus represents an undesirable condition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thus...the evaluation process implies the existence and use of a contextual system or structure of values associated with the characteristic(s) being measured. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A Comprehensive Faculty Evaluation Program..... involves the systematic observation (measurement) of relevant faculty performance to determine the degree to which that performance is consonant with the values and needs of the educational institution. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Two Purposes of a Faculty Evaluation System..... • Provide feedback for self-improvement • Provide data for personnel decisions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NOTES