Faculty Senate Update: Evaluations

by Tom Westerman

With the end of every semester comes evaluations. Many departments have individual evaluation forms for students to fill out to assess their professors. However, much debate surrounds this semester's "standard" evaluation form that was out as of December 4, according to Faculty Senate Chairperson, Patrick Kelly, a professor of history.

During the spring 2000 semester the Student Government Association (SGA) along with the Provost's office devised a form to be distributed by all professors. It was announced that once completed by the students the evaluations would be made public.. Debate ensued, prompting former Provost Kate Davy to apologize to the faculty for not consulting them earlier. But the debate is far from over and that was obvious at the December 4 Faculty Senate meetings.

The main debate revolved around feedback vs. consultation. Audrey Blumberg, Associate Provost, said that "we [the provost's office] want feedback." But many professors among them Ronald Feingold, a professor of Health and Jack Angel, a professor in the business department, said that they would want to be involved in the process. To that effect an ad hoc committee was established to look into this after Valerie Feinman, a professor of Libraries, informed those in attendance that there was a committee in which no one signed up for Professor Feingold will spearhead the committee's formation.

The committee will be made up of faculty, but with lobbying from Martin Haas, a professor of history, who said that students should be on the committee. Professor Kelly said that SGA (as well as the Provost's office) will be made aware that the committee will be looking for students and administration members to help with the process. Ms. Blumberg said the administration "would accept consultation" but would not stop the current process, so specifics could be cleared up, as Professor Angel suggested.