Natalie walked into class, dropped her book bag, and interrupted me as I was preparing for class. “What happens if the entire class gives a professor a bad evaluation?” I knew, from past comments, that Natalie was dissatisfied with her Math teacher. For fellow students in Natalie’s class, the end-of-semester evaluation was retribution. Professors may not be present when students fill them out and one person is designated to bring them to an administrative office.
Who Sees the Evaluation and Judges the Results?
After collating the results, the evaluation results are seen by the department chair, the dean, and other institutional administrators. In almost every case, they discard both the worst and the most complimentary comments. Every class has angry students that believe getting a “C” is the kiss of death. Every class also has one or two students that think the professor is God's gift to education.
In Natalie’s case, she claimed her professor was dismissive, answering her questions saying, “It’s in the book.” Other complaints included: erasing the board before everyone had an opportunity to write down the examples given and rushing through the chapters. But it was enough to earn the end-of-semester crucifixion from the entire class at evaluation time.
Venting Excuses Personal Responsibility when Students Evaluate Teachers
One student in a different class noted that the course was too difficult, the instructor was indifferent to the needs of students, and rated the overall course experience as poor. Yet the same student left class after attendance to text and make cell phone calls lasting twenty minutes or more and checked out of class fifteen minutes before the class ended.
That represents the other side of a negative evaluation. Students forget to take tests, turn in assignments late, and blame the instructor for a lower average score. An E-mail from Gloria acknowledges that she forgot to take the on-line final examination before the deadline, but “any grade less than a B is just not acceptable.”
The Evaluation as a Tool and Part of Necessary Institutional Accreditation
Evaluating a professor should not be the last act of Macbeth or Hamlet. Although it’s difficult to detach from personal vendetta, every effort should be made to rate the things that really count:
- quality and content of lectures
- text books
- supplemental readings
- use of technology
- teaching methodology
- promptness in returning assignments
- diversity of assessments
- meeting regularly as per the schedule
- addressing student feedback
- content knowledge
Every institution has weak instructors that need to be either motivated or rooted out. But this requires precise documentation. Although it is easier for institutions to move adjuncts to the bottom of the available list, it is much more difficult to chasten a professor with tenure. One such professor at a large state university frequently made controversial and even outrageous statements, ending with the disclaimer, “I’m fully tenured so I can say these things.”
The Class Revolt in Semester Evaluations
My explanations to Natalie’s questions were purely objective. From her comments, I recognized the proverbial “two sides.” Nor did I want to know who the offending teacher was. Students love to draw other professors into the campus gossip loop.
Both student and peer evaluations are always subjective. Sometimes they highlight glaring faults that need to be addressed. At other times they simply serve as an outlet to express anger over undocumented and unfounded criticisms. Natalie’s evaluation most probably fit the latter.
Additional information on high school evaluations can be found in the article High School End of Semester Evaluations.
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