How to Develop a Fair and Valid Comprehensive Faculty Evaluation System

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the step-by-step procedure that an academic chairman, dean, or vice president can follow for developing a comprehensive faculty evaluation program that meets the unique and specific needs of their department, college or institution. This article addresses the issues of peer and student ratings, the use of multiple sources of information, when and how to develop appropriate questionnaires, summarizing the data, and using the information for promotion, tenure, and merit pay decisions as well as feedback for faculty development and improvement.