The teaching portfolio has been promoted as a vehicle for collecting and documenting information about an individual's teaching performance. The problem of how best to assess the information has not yet been addressed adequately. This article describes how a teacher's colleagues can provide assessments of portfolios. (JM)

Although college faculty may hesitate to evaluate each others' teaching, it is a sensible alternative to evaluation by students or by administrators. Peer evaluations are not only useful for improving teaching, but also affect promotion and tenure decisions. When faculty are rated by observation, repeated visits and rater training are required in…

This book addresses the legal implications of reappointment, promotion and tenure decisions bearing on college faculty with an emphasis on how understanding the relevant legal principles can inform practice. It uses scenarios and cases to illustrate the conflict between institutional and individual rights and the potential legal problems…

This digest of a full report with the same title reviews the literature on the legal implications of college faculty reappointment, promotion, and tenure decisions, with an emphasis on how an understanding of the relevant legal principles can inform practice. It briefly summarizes issues in the following areas: the role of the courts in…

Various means of evaluating teaching are discussed along with the pros and cons of using each method for improving teaching or making personnel decisions. (Editor/LBH)

Six evaluation methods are discussed: student ratings, colleague evaluations, definitions of good teaching, teacher-designed examinations, evaluation of research and scholarship, and the politics of evaluation. (Author/MLW)

Research indicates that colleagues, administrators, students, and alumni have all identified similar general characteristics of effective college teachers and teaching and can make valid evaluations of individual teachers. A proposed process for identifying teaching award winners has two stages: (1) nomination using a rating and description form;…

A study investigated the use of teaching portfolios and student evaluations in evaluating 97 college faculty members for contract renewal. Two faculty peers and a dean evaluated the portfolio of each teacher. Student evaluations correlated reasonably well with portfolio evaluations by the deans and one of the peers. (Author/MSE)

An authoritative, research-based guide to determining faculty effectiveness is offered. Assessment of classroom teaching, scholarship and research, public service, and student advising are faculty tasks examined for personnel decisions and general improvement. Emphasis on educational accountability in academe, due to declining enrollments and…