Section 6 covers information about how faculty are evaluated.
CWI evaluates all full-time faculty members a minimum of once every year using multiple data sources in accordance with the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities Accreditation Standards on faculty evaluation. The purpose for evaluating faculty is to improve and enhance instructional excellence, to assist in making sound personnel decisions, and to provide information on the performance of faculty in their major areas of responsibility.
The evaluations can only be fair and useful if the results of the evaluation are discussed with the person being evaluated. Evaluations should not be confused with or considered as a substitute for open, ongoing communication between supervisors and subordinates.
The criteria used in evaluating faculty performance for both summative and formative assessments are related to job and rank responsibilities and should be understood by all parties before the evaluation process begins. (Please Note: A performance evaluation does not occur if there is a deficiency of performance. A Performance Plan may be developed in this case, as part of the overall performance management.) Faculty are evaluated based on teaching, professionalism, institutional engagement, and professional development. For further details, refer to HR 140 – Employee Corrective Action Policy.
When improvement and professional development needs are identified, the responsibility for improvement and/or change rests with the faculty member. The institution may assist the faculty member by providing formal and informal improvement opportunities to the faculty. An opportunity for faculty comment is provided within each formal evaluation.
Evaluation Type | Part of the Evaluation if applicable | Due Date |
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FPAR |
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Strengths Based Coaching |
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Summative Evaluation | In conjunction with review of FPAR |
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Dean Evaluation |
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Evaluations for full-time CWI faculty will consist of two types – summative assessments and formative assessments. The criteria used in evaluating faculty performance for both summative and formative assessments are related to job and rank responsibilities. Assessment tools and processes should be understood by all parties before the evaluation process begins. Note: In cases where deficiency has been noted, a Coaching and Development Plan may be developed as part of the overall performance management.
The following are the assessments:
Faculty will have access to an official copy of their own evaluations. Faculty and supervisors will turn in, store, and access evaluations (except those housed by HR) within their departmental faculty evaluation site. Each department, program, or school will have a Faculty Evaluation Repository Blackboard Shell. In each, faculty will have access to training materials and only their own evaluations. Faculty will have the ability to turn in their own evaluations, access supervisor feedback on evaluation drafts, view confirmation of completion of an evaluation, and access previous evaluations. Supervisors will have access to all of their faculty member’s submitted work. Supervisors will be able to collect evaluations, give feedback and revision notes as appropriate, and verify completion of evaluations. The associated dean and administrative assistant will be able to access evaluation documents in the department sites in order to perform administrative functions.
A. Purpose
The FPAR is a formative evaluation and method of documenting faculty work.
B. Schedule
The FPAR is updated and submitted annually to the departmental faculty evaluation site by Feb. 15, or in the fall semester of a promotion cycle Faculty are encouraged to update it regularly in order to accurately capture work. Faculty may start a new FPAR form immediately following promotion or after a summative evaluation.
C. Contents
The FPAR includes a description of teaching, institutional engagement, and professional development goals and achievements with an explanation of the scope and impact of the faculty member’s contributions.
D. Process
The process is described below. A document containing advice, recommendations, and screenshots to assist in filling out the FPAR is available on the Faculty Senate teamsite.
A. Purpose
The purpose of this formative evaluation is to ensure the faculty and their direct supervisors have strong lines of communication about the work of faculty. During Strengths Based Coaching, faculty and supervisors will
This evaluation is documented in writing using the method chosen by Human Resources.
B. Schedule
Strengths Based Coaching will occur yearly. Parts of the process have different due dates:
C. Contents
Strengths based coaching will consist of a review of the faculty’s teaching, institutional engagement, and professional development since the last Strengths Based Coaching session.
D. Process
The process explanation is below and also housed in the Faculty Evaluation Repository shell.
A. Purpose
Summative Evaluations are formal evaluations administered by the faculty’s supervisor. The purpose of the Summative Evaluation is to have the faculty member and their supervisor participate in the assessment of the faculty member’s work at rank over an extended period.
B. Schedule
Summative Assessments are conducted annually for faculty on non-renewable contract status, and at least once every five years for faculty on renewable contract. Summative Assessments shall occur immediately prior to any request for consideration of advancement in rank. The Summative Evaluation will occur after a faculty member submits a letter of intention to apply for promotion or after a period of five years since the faculty member’s last Summative Evaluation.
C. Contents
The Summative will consist of a review of the faculty’s teaching, institutional engagement, and professional development since the last Summative Assessment.
The faculty member’s Faculty Planning and Activity Reporting (FPAR) Form that contains all information since the last Summative Evaluation will be reviewed so that supervisors can refer to this information when adding their comments to the Summative.
The Summative Evaluation will include an observation of the faculty member’s instruction a minimum of once during the evaluation period.
D. Process
1. Purpose
When an Associate Professor takes on rank responsibilities at the school level, goal setting and communication with the school’s dean is an important step in this new role and as a Full Professor. Deans have an important perspective on the needs of the schools and institution, and their coaching of faculty is integral to the faculty member achieving excellence at advanced rank. The Dean Evaluation and all parts of the process are meant to be formative as well as summative in nature.
2. Schedule
3. Contents
The evaluation is focused on the faculty member’s contribution to school initiatives. Contribution would occur through a faculty member’s teaching, institutional engagement, and professional development. Faculty will only be assessed on contributions discussed and documented with the dean during goal setting. Contributions by faculty beyond what was discussed and documented in the goal setting meeting should be included but not assessed in the evaluation. In the evaluation, the faculty member and the dean should refer to the faculty member’s Summative Evaluation, Faculty Planning and Activity Reporting (FPAR) Form, and any other ideas discussed in the goal setting meeting(s).
The faculty member’s Faculty Planning and Activity Reporting (FPAR) Form that contains all information since the last Summative Evaluation will be reviewed so that supervisors can refer to this information when adding their comments to Summative.
4. Process
a. Part One: Goal Setting
Starting in the first year of rank at Associate Professor, the faculty member meets with their dean for a formative conversation about the faculty member’s strengths and interests and how those can contribute to initiatives in their school. Those goals are agreed upon and recorded in Part One of the Dean Evaluation, as well as updated in the FPAR. The faculty member submits the agreed upon goals in Part One of the Dean’s Evaluation to the Faculty Evaluation Repository shell. These goals may be amended with additional meetings over the five-year period, initiated by the faculty member or the dean.
b. Part Two: Evaluation.
Both the faculty member and Dean will consult with the faculty’s department chair to complete this evaluation.
c. Part Three: Record Keeping.
The dean retains the physical signed copy and sends the faculty member a digital copy of the signed copy. The faculty member then uploads the digital signed copy to the Faculty Evaluation Repository shell. The supervisor then confirms the Dean Evaluation is completed in the Faculty Evaluation Repository shell. The signed copy housed in the Faculty Evaluation Repository shell is considered the official version. The Dean Evaluation will be shared with the faculty’s direct supervisor, may be reviewed by the Provost, and will be included in any future promotion portfolio. The official document will be kept in the office of the dean.
Refer to INST 030 Adjunct Faculty in the CWI Policies and Procedures Manual.
1. Peer Observation Purpose
Faculty at CWI are committed to teaching excellence, and faculty peer observation is a valuable method for purposeful engagement in continuous improvement of teaching. The peer observation process is an opportunity for the observed and observer to learn from one another and share ideas, experience, philosophies, strategies, and resources. The process is to be formative and collegial in nature, rather than evaluative.
2. Peer Observation Standards
The peer observation process has standards that all faculty must adhere to. There are, however, some standards that are tailorable by department, which are noted below.
3. Procedure.
The peer observation process consists of a faculty member being observed at least once and doing an observation at least once. The process must meet the standards described below, and the process must follow the procedure that was approved by Faculty Senate, appropriately customized by the department, and provided through the Faculty Evaluation Repository.
4. Frequency.
At minimum, faculty must participate in the peer review process, including doing an observation and being observed, with the following frequency:
Departments will more narrowly define frequency expectations for themselves. Below are example models for frequency.
5. Deliverables
6. Observations
Observations should be focused on pedagogy rather than solely on course content; as a result, there is a great deal of flexibility regarding who may be observed. Departments may set limitations on or set goals for who should be observed. Below are some of the populations it may benefit faculty to observe.
7. Arrangement of Observations
Department chairs or their designees will assume responsibility for connecting observers to people to be observed. Faculty may request to assume responsibility for arranging to be observed and/or do an observation. Departments will provide information on the exact procedure they expect their faculty to use.
8. Length of Observation
The observation should last roughly the same period as 1 credit hour’s time, 50 minutes. This observation work may be completed synchronously, asynchronously, or any combination of the two. This 50 minutes' worth of work may include observation of course materials, lecture, lab, online course, etc.
9. Elements of Course Observed
The observer and observed must agree to the portions of the course that will be observed. Observations should be focused on pedagogy rather than solely on course content.
10. Required Meeting
The observed and observer are required to meet after the observation to discuss the observation. The meeting should be roughly 30 minutes.
11. Burden Limitation
Faculty may be asked to participate in peer observation more frequently than required. Faculty are not required to participate more frequently than the standard set by the department. However, faculty are encouraged to participate as often as they would like and that their schedule reasonably allows
12. Communication of Department Tailored Standards
The decisions made by departments on frequency, who may be observed, and how observations will be arranged must be posted in the Faculty Evaluation Repository Peer Observation section using the Department Standards for Peer Observation form. The notification needs to include the decision, the dates decisions were made, and the date the decision will be reviewed again.