Best Practices in Faculty Evaluation

Book excerpt: 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.