Examines the effectiveness of different forms of questionnaires utilized to evaluate teachers and courses by comparing the use of individual questions with that of global questions. Discusses findings related to specific improvements in the design of student questionnaires. (Author/JJK)

Graduates of the Mesa Public Schools Advanced Placement (A/P) program were surveyed to determine: (1) their attitudes toward their experience in the program; (2) college credits received for their A/P classes; and (3) their suggestions for A/P program improvement. A/P courses, offered within the regular curriculum, have grown significantly since…

A study used correlational analysis and step-wise multiple regression to build mathematical models representing the dynamics of student evaluation of courses and teachers. The resulting models were very strong and were subsequently used to improve academic programs in Kuwait's Institute of Banking Studies. (Author/MSE)

Describes experiences with student evaluation of teacher performance in higher education at four universities. Recommends peer evaluation through a system of rotating seminars in which faculty members demonstrate teaching by discussing their professional activities. (CFR)

Reports on a study that compared graduate student and faculty views of effective psychology courses. Finds that students placed greater emphasis on course components directly related to their class performance. Suggests strategies for addressing the different perspectives of students and faculty. (CFR)

Higher education relies on student ratings to evaluate faculty teaching, partly because the alternatives (expert peer appraisals or objective performance criteria) are costly or unavailable. Because student ratings are crucial not only to improving instruction, but also in making or breaking faculty careers, it is important to assure that they…

Asserts that the presumption that student evaluation of teacher performance will eliminate poor or below-average teachers is dubious. Maintains that student evaluation is less harmful than peer evaluation. Argues that student evaluation is one of several factors that contribute to the decline of U.S. universities. (CFR)

Contends that student evaluation of teacher performance has lowered the quality of U.S. education. Argues that the assessment instruments used to assess teacher performance are not only limited in effectiveness but are used as an instrument of intimidation to force conformity to politically correct standards. (CFR)

The use of exit surveys at the University of Washington was investigated. Objectives were to identify (1) how many departments or programs employed department-generated exit surveys to gather information from graduating students, (2) the type of information collected and its use by departments, and (3) criteria for determining the usefulness of an…

Asserts that standardized teacher evaluation forms belittle students by blending them into an anonymous mass and emphasize that writing is unimportant. Concludes that, rather than increasing students' influence, teacher evaluations enhance administrators' power and pose a danger to intellectual freedom. (CFR)

Maintains that the standardized teacher/course evaluation form has become a ritual at virtually every major U.S. university. Argues that many good teachers are unrewarded, ineffective ones win prizes, and the evaluation process is a means of monitoring political orthodoxy. (CFR)

This paper describes a program to measure institutional effectiveness that involved development of an inventory checklist designed to stimulate faculty input on how student performance-related outcomes are measured and to evaluate current program effectiveness. The checklist, designed to be administered in an interview format, focused on three…