A study at Virginia Commonwealth University showed that students were both consistent in evaluation of their teachers and sensitive to changes in teaching skill. (Editor/LBH)

Two questions are addressed: (1) What set of courses, in terms of theme and content, should a student be exposed to in order to achieve his general education? (2) By whom should general education courses be taught? Measures for maintaining the quality of the general education staff and its teaching effectiveness are discussed. (LBH)

The empirical testing of an objectively designed approach to student evaluation of sociology professors is reported. It combines the concept of student sub-cultural perception with the research method of matched-paired comparisons. (LBH)

Does course evaluation by students aid students in selecting the "best" instructors? This and related questions were experimentally tested by University of Utah faculty members. (Editor/LBH)

Evaluations from all students in a course on the last day of meeting are reported and analyzed by a professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University. A mathematical formula for rating is shown. (Editor/LBH)

Suggestions for improving the design and use of student evaluation forms include tailoring the forms to the class needs and format, wording statements carefully, training students to evaluate performance, allowing ample time for completion, handling the evaluation procedure without involvement of the professor, and eliminating student anonymity.…

This study is an attempt to replicate earlier investigations at other institutions regarding the characteristics of an "ideal professor." Indiana University Northwest undergraduate and graduate students are in agreement about the most and least important characteristics: encouraging independent thinking, and liking college-age youth, respectively.…

The extent and nature of student involvement in the teaching-learning process are a continuing problem. This study shows that the computer can be used to integrate student input into the grade that affects students most, which may help reduce tension in the university. (LBH)

The criteria and methods for evaluating faculty who teach undergraduates only are discussed with special emphasis on those teaching at lower-division campuses. It is suggested that there would be more effort expended to teach well if faculty knew that effort and performance as teachers were respected and rewarded. (MLW)

The evaluation process as it affects teacher improvement was examined at Carleton College. Assumptions were made regarding the nature and use of student evaluation of teaching and from them a series of procedures was created for securing student evaluations in written form. (LBH)

Research on the validity of student rating scales of teacher performance is inconsistent, and the issue of why the scales are used needs examination. Until their criterion validity is raised to correlations of .7 to .8 or construct validity can be established, results should not be used in making tenure decisions. (MSE)

Relationships among teaching effectiveness; publication productivity; and rewards in a non-university setting are examined. The data indicate that even in a non-university setting, frequency of nomination as an outstanding teacher by students was not realted to either salary or rank, and frequency of nomination by colleagues was also unrelated to…

As part of a discussion on how to create an optimum learning environment in the community college, 50 undergraduates were surveyed as to possible issues for campus unrest. The resulting list suggested that community college students are short-sighted, concerned with the immediate (such as parking) and have little concern for large social matters.…

A study of the effectiveness of teaching assistants is reported with many direct quotations from the 534 suggestions received. Topics included attitudes, teaching quality, amount of responsibility, availability, coordination with professors, evaluation, knowledge of subject matter, and mastery of English language by foreign assistants. (Editor/LBH)

A study of student assessment of teaching assistants in physical education activity courses is described. The purpose of the study was to compare student ratings of instructional effectiveness with teaching assistants' traits of sex, age, degree, undergraduate major, and teaching experience. (MLW)