Best Practices in Faculty Evaluation A Practical Guide for Academic Leaders

BEST PRACTICES IN FACULTY EVALUATION

Best Practices in Faculty Evaluation is designed to be a hands-on guide for academics and administrators who want to become more effective and more confident in their handling of the important task of faculty evaluation. This vital resource offers chairs, deans, and members of evaluation committees the practical information they need to perform fair and accurate faculty evaluation.

The book covers best practices in all forms of review and evaluation and includes directions that are designed to help evaluators understand how to use the information about faculty performance, convey clear messages about priorities, and protect themselves in cases when an appeal or grievance is likely. Best Practices in Faculty Evaluation is filled with practical advice and answers to commonly asked questions about oral and written reviews and evaluations, annual performance appraisals and evaluations, probationary and pretenure reviews, posttenure reviews, merit evaluations, tenure evaluations, promotion evaluations, and much more.

In today's complex academic environment there is no longer a "typical" full-time, tenure-eligible faculty member. The staff of most colleges and universities includes increasing numbers of part-time faculty members, non-tenure-track faculty members, and even online course instructors whom the reviewer never meets in person. To address the wide range of diverse faculty members, the author offers clear guidance for evaluating both tenure-tracked faculty and nontraditional faculty members.

The Author ix

Introduction and Acknowledgments xi

Part One: The Fundamental Goals of Review and Evaluation 1

1 The Accountability Culture in Higher Education 3

2 Best Practices in All Forms of Review and Evaluation 23

3 Oral and Written Reviews and Evaluations 43

Part Two: Primarily Formative Review and Evaluation 65

4 Annual Performance Appraisals and Evaluations 67

5 Probationary Period Pretenure Reviews 89

6 Posttenure Review 109

Part Three: Summative Review and Evaluation 129

7 Merit Evaluations 131

8 Tenure Evaluations 151

9 Promotion Evaluations 173

Part Four: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Review and Evaluation 191

10 The Arreola Model 193

11 The Seldin Model 215

12 Incorporating Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches into an Integrated Process 229

Index 249

THE AUTHOR

JEFFREY L. BULLER is dean of Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University. He is the author of Academic Leadership Day by Day, The Essential College Professor, The Essential Academic Dean, and The Essential Department Chair, 2nd Edition.