University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal 36 - 21
Emergency Proposal: Student Evaluations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Voting Units: Academic)
Submitted by: Academic and Instruction Policy Committee
Rationale:
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the challenges to teaching follow apace. The following proposal seeks to modify the use of student evaluations so that:
- Faculty are protected from unfair evaluations resulting from teaching in such adverse conditions
- Students still get an opportunity to share their voice and provide course feedback to their instructors allowing for progress in future semesters
Proposal:
Current Senate Procedure 504.1.1 states:
A three-tiered approach to evaluation of teaching has been found to be the current best practice. Therefore, in addition to student evaluation of teaching effectiveness, the instructor has the right to include peer and/or self-evaluation in the evaluation of their teaching. No single measure should constitute the majority (more than 50%) of the teaching evaluation
Due to the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, it is proposed that student evaluations be administered in the normal fashion however at the unit level, for the Fall 2020 semester only, faculty can choose to:
- Have the student evaluations count towards merit and promotion processes in the normal fashion as is prescribed by their unit
- Choose another evaluation method to replace the student evaluation score even if the other method then counts as more than 50% of the total teaching evaluation. For example if a unit counted student evaluations, and faculty self evaluations each as 30% of their overall teaching evaluation, a faculty member this semester could choose to use the self evaluation as 60% of their overall teaching evaluation.
Evaluation scores will be allowed to be used to identify candidates for departmental, college, or university awards.
Furthermore the following question will be added to the evaluation.
1. I participated in this class primarily by:
a. Going to the physical classroom
b. Attending live sessions via Zoom
c. Watching recorded sessions
d. Meeting with small groups by Zoom
e. ???
2. My level of participation and engagement in this class was
a. Very high
b. High
c. Low
d. Very low
November 11, 2020