Senate Document 06-10 

                                                                                    Faculty Affairs Committee

                                                                                    For Discussion

To:  Purdue University Calumet Senate

From:  Faculty Affairs Committee

Re:  Resolution from the Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation

Date: April 27, 2006

The Faculty Affairs Committee requests the approval of the Faculty Senate of the document on Resolution from the Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation.  The attached document was reviewed and approved by the Faculty Affairs Committee on April 26, 2006. 

Approved:

A. Gregory (chair)

M. Dakich

M. Fathizadeh

L. Hollingsworth

M. Marthaler

B. Pai

D. Rinke

Disapproved:

Absent: 

RESOLUTION from the Ad Hoc Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation

Following several previous Purdue University Calumet committees and task forces charged with preparing a teaching assessment program, and based on our review and discussion of possible teaching evaluation approaches, including available research on best practices for teaching evaluation and appropriate measurement tools, the Committee on Teaching and Assessment designed a matrix system of teaching components, sources, and appropriate evaluation tools.

The design and its rationale were presented in conversations with twelve departments, the Faculty Senate, and two CIE roundtables/luncheons. These conversations revealed a wide disparity in comprehension and agreement among faculty.  At this time, there is no faculty consensus on the meaning, purpose, value, validity, need, or implementation of any teaching evaluation system.

Meanwhile, Flashlight, the on-line student evaluation of teaching program, was met with confusion, skepticism, frustration, mistrust, and limited participation by faculty and students.

Thus, the Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation has determined that we face a political, not a technical problem.  It is clear that faculty must fully participate in the process at the departmental, disciplinary level for any program to work well.

We also recognize that these deliberations occur during Purdue University Calumet’s efforts to meet AQIP standards on assessment and an emerging national trend towards transparent accountability in academic institutions.

Therefore, the Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation recommends that:

a) Before Fall 2006 classes begin, departments hold facilitated faculty retreats to decide:

• Departmental program values and goals for teaching
• Faculty teaching roles and responsibilities
• Teaching skills appropriate for departments/disciplines
• Observable and evidentiary performance or outcome

The Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation further recommends that:

b) Until departments reach such decisions, NO TEACHING EVALUATIONS be conducted at Purdue University Calumet. (Faculty preparing for tenure and promotion may wish to continue using existing options for evaluation of teaching, including Flashlight or other CTIS options.)

Submitted April 24, 2006

Committee on Teaching Assessment and Evaluation

Lee Artz, Jonathan Furdek, Lisa Hopp, Nasser Houshangi,

Beth Pellicciotti, José Pena, Jeff Scheib, and Eric Wignall.