2008 Woodie Awards
Student evaluations matter; be thoughtful
Aoife O'Neill
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Forum
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Once again, we are approaching the end of a semester. And, as usual, course evaluations will be upon us. So, it is important that as Guilford College students, we take the time to fill out course evaluations thoughtfully. "But why?" You're probably asking. It's not like anyone actually reads our course evaluations, right? Wrong.
Not only do professors read course evaluations, the dean's office and, in certain situations, the Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) read them. And, not only are course evaluations read, according to Associate Academic Dean Steve Shapiro, they are read "closely." But, it doesn't matter if course evaluations are read closely if students do not provide the faculty and administration with thoughtful feedback.
Well, you're probably asking, "What is done with the feedback on course evaluations?"
First, with our feedback, professors read course evaluations to evaluate and alter their course content and/or teaching pedagogy. Steve Shapiro, also a physics professor, says that, for professors, course evaluations answer such questions as "What could I have done differently? What could I have done better?"
Without thoughtful feedback from students, professors must rely only on their own judgment about their courses and pedagogy, which can lead to bias. But, with thoughtful feedback from student course evaluations, professors can make modifications that meet students learning expectations.
Second, FAC uses our feedback to make promotional decisions about professors, including tenure. Steve Shapiro explained that FAC reviews untenured professors on the tenure track three times, during their second, fourth, and sixth years. During each of these reviews, all of a professor's course evaluations, since their last FAC review, are reviewed. By completing thoughtful course evaluations, we are ensuring that FAC makes well-informed decisions that reflect the thought of the overall Guilford College community.
As Guilford College students, we should rightfully fight hard to overturn FAC decisions that we deem unjust. But, we should also take preventative actions to ensure that FAC doesn't make decisions that we deem unjust. By filling out thoughtful course evaluations, we take a strong preventative action. We are ensuring that the changes professors make promote our learning expectations and that FAC decisions reflect the overall judgment of the student community.
Not only do professors read course evaluations, the dean's office and, in certain situations, the Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) read them. And, not only are course evaluations read, according to Associate Academic Dean Steve Shapiro, they are read "closely." But, it doesn't matter if course evaluations are read closely if students do not provide the faculty and administration with thoughtful feedback.
Well, you're probably asking, "What is done with the feedback on course evaluations?"
First, with our feedback, professors read course evaluations to evaluate and alter their course content and/or teaching pedagogy. Steve Shapiro, also a physics professor, says that, for professors, course evaluations answer such questions as "What could I have done differently? What could I have done better?"
Without thoughtful feedback from students, professors must rely only on their own judgment about their courses and pedagogy, which can lead to bias. But, with thoughtful feedback from student course evaluations, professors can make modifications that meet students learning expectations.
Second, FAC uses our feedback to make promotional decisions about professors, including tenure. Steve Shapiro explained that FAC reviews untenured professors on the tenure track three times, during their second, fourth, and sixth years. During each of these reviews, all of a professor's course evaluations, since their last FAC review, are reviewed. By completing thoughtful course evaluations, we are ensuring that FAC makes well-informed decisions that reflect the thought of the overall Guilford College community.
As Guilford College students, we should rightfully fight hard to overturn FAC decisions that we deem unjust. But, we should also take preventative actions to ensure that FAC doesn't make decisions that we deem unjust. By filling out thoughtful course evaluations, we take a strong preventative action. We are ensuring that the changes professors make promote our learning expectations and that FAC decisions reflect the overall judgment of the student community.
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