Our Services
- Student Ratings of Instruction
- Assesses effectiveness by focusing on learning and curricular objectives.
- Feedback for Department Chairs
- Comprises the only nationally normed tool for evaluating chairpersons.
- Chair Coaching Service
- Guiding chairs through an individualized process of professional discovery and reflection.
- Feedback for Administrators
- Considers impressions of stakeholders on 10 pivotal characteristics.
Faculty Evaluation - Best Practices
Pilot IDEA
Introduce IDEA in a pilot setting and provide an opportunity for faculty members to receive training and feedback about their IDEA results.
National and Local Norms
In their teaching portfolios, faculty members include department and university norms (from Group Summary Reports) and national norms along with their own scores on Excellent Teacher and Excellent Course items. Review committees can help understand the relative performance of individuals when results are considered within the context of local and national information.
Summarize Data for Administrators
The Director of Faculty Development plots results for two summary measures (Progress on Relevant Objectives and Overall Excellence of Instructor) so that supervisors can see at a glance the scores of faculty who are in the top, middle, or bottom thirds.
Use Multiple Sources of Information
IDEA results are only part of the evaluation process. Campuses also include peer/chair observations, alumni evaluations, student/faculty peer focus groups, syllabi and teaching material review. By reducing the emphasis on IDEA, instructors are free to examine their scores without fear being inappropriately penalized for less positive scores.
Use IDEA to Identify Strengths and Areas of Commendation
Providing feedback facilitates a more positive evaluation process.
Use IDEA in Portfolios
Provides faculty an opportunity to see their IDEA results in a broader context and generates more thoughtful reflection.
Faculty Control of Results
Faculty are required to provide holistic summaries of their IDEA results. IDEA serves as the basis for reflective statements that are included in evaluation materials.
Including IDEA Results is Optional
To keep the focus of using IDEA to guide improvement efforts, faculty members can determine if the results are included in their evaluation or promotion and tenure review materials.
Provide Guidance
New faculty members are evaluated in every course prior to applying for tenure. In the first semester, the Dean of Faculty Growth and Assessment will meet with new faculty to discuss the process of course evaluation and the IDEA form.
Administrator Training
New department heads and deans are provided detailed information about how to use and interpret IDEA results.
