Distribution of Materials

Printed survey forms and collection envelopes with instructions printed on them are provided to the division office by the office of the Associate Dean, Instructional Accountability, Compliance, and Effectiveness. In addition, sets of labels for all classes scheduled are provided. The label has the name of the class, the name of the instructor, the number of assigned seats, and the division code.

Translated Versions

Survey questions are available in Spanish, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese. Instructors should request translations from the office of the Associate Dean, Instructional Accountability, Compliance, and Effectiveness.

Extent of Use

Surveys are administered in classes of all full-time and all part-time instructors, including instructors teaching classes on an overload basis.

Time Administered

The survey is administered within a week before or a week following the withdrawal date of the class to be surveyed.

Reporting of Survey Results

Two copies of the survey results are sent to the division office; one for the division director and one for the instructor. These results are not available until the beginning of the following semester. The data include instructor means, course prefix means, college means, and standard deviations.

In addition, original copies of surveys with student written comments are sent to the division for distribution to the instructor.

Review with Supervisor

During annual performance reviews, the instructors and supervisors  review calendar year survey results (not fiscal year) from the previous fall, spring, and summer terms.  The supervisor provides data to the instructor at least two weeks before the instructor’s annual evaluation so that the instructor can review the results, conduct a self-assessment, and design a plan for how to improve in any problem area.

It is recommended that each instructor keep a portfolio of what he or she has done to improve teaching effectiveness and that the instructor and the supervisor review this portfolio as well as the most recent Student Opinion Survey results during the annual performance review.

Factors to Include in Evaluation

Each discipline area may decide what factors to include in instructor evaluation as instructional activities vary across disciplines. These factors may include supervisor’s classroom observation; supervisor’s overall evaluation; self-assessment; annual portfolio of teaching projects and activities; and portfolio of teaching techniques.

Established Standard

On a scale of 1-5 (1 very poor, 2 below average, 3 average, 4 above average, 5 excellent) the instructional rating standard has been set at 4.

Use in Instructor Evaluation

The Student Opinion Survey is only one factor in evaluating teaching effectiveness. The instrument is weighted no higher than 30 percent of the overall faculty evaluation.

Ratings

The Student Opinion Survey provides three sub-scale ratings, which allow a faculty member and the immediate supervisor to have a meaningful discussion regarding teaching effectiveness and classroom management. Sub-scale ratings include:

• The art of teaching which examine the impact of instructor behaviors on students’ motivation to learn.
• The science of teaching addresses the use of different instructional strategies.
• The business of teaching examines classroom management behaviors.

The average rating per sub-scale of 4 is the standard.

Plan for Improving Weak Areas

Faculty receiving a rating of less than 4 on a sub-scale the first term will be encouraged to participate in related training activities sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Faculty receiving a rating of less than 4 on a sub-scale for two consecutive terms will have documented training needs identified in their PDPs.

Professional Development Strategies

The Center for Teaching and Learning is responsible for creating professional development strategies and programs to respond to teaching improvement needs identified by the supervisor on the Faculty Needs Assessment form.

Training for Supervisors

The Center for Teaching and Learning offers offer training for division directors on appropriate use of the Student Opinion Survey and its data.

Approved by Deans’ Council 5/2001; revised 11/21/01