A comprehensive approach to faculty evaluation

The purpose of this undertaking was to design a comprehensive faculty evaluation instrument that would reflect the complexities of the faculty role. An 80-item instrument was designed from a review of the literature, content analyses on job descriptions, existing evaluation tools. Items were modified on the basis of critical review by educators with expertise and experience in evaluation measurement and faculty role expectations. Instrument design incorporates the need for explicit criteria; flexibility in establishing performance standards and expectations; involvement of students, peers, administrators and self in the evaluation process; and greater consistency of judgments. When used in conjunction with a computerized data management package, this instrument provides a variety of information needed to make well-informed decisions regarding faculty development, promotion, retention and tenure of faculty members, and optimum utilization of faculty talents. Each school's faculty establishes standards of performance expectations according to its values, capitalizing on the unique nature of the proposed evaluation instrument.