Overview
Professional Writing Instructor Responsibilities for Evaluation
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- This evaluation will be conducted based on a cumulative review of prior annual reviews from within the appointment period, a review of materials submitted for the final spring semester of the appointment period, and one classroom observation conducted during the appointment period.
- This is the evaluation that will determine the length of appointment renewal, any terms of remediation for the coming year, or decision of non-renewal.
- The outcome of this review is reported in an appointment renewal offer, remediation letter, or non-renewal letter, which PWIs receive in summer.
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Evaluation Process
The evaluation process is based on these four elements*:
- Syllabi and Assignment Sheets
- End-of-Semester Course Evaluations
- Reflective Self-Assessment for Professional Writing Instructors
- Classroom Observation (one per contract period)
1. Syllabi and Assignment Sheets
PWIs will submit an electronic file containing syllabi and assignment sheets for the current semester at the end of that semester.
2. Course/Teacher Evaluations
Students are asked to complete and submit course evaluation forms for all undergraduate courses. Typically, course evaluations are screened to identify areas of strength and weakness each semester by a designee of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Persistent or chronic problems are documented, and the teacher is informed. The documentation for the entire contract period will be considered in the teacher's cumulative evaluation in the final year of the contract period.
3. Reflective Self-Assessment for Professional Writing Instructors
PWIs will complete the Reflective Self-Assessment for Professional Writing Instructors form annually and include it in their electronic submission at the end of the fall semester.
4. Classroom Observation
The classroom observation may be conducted at any time during the contract period but must be completed by April 1 of the final spring semester of the contract period. The observations can be done by administrative staff member with teaching responsibilities or by a senior full-time faculty member whom the Director has asked to serve as an evaluator that year.
All observations will be documented using a Classroom Observation Form [PDF | DOC]. Please note that question #5 on the Observation Form asks for a holistic assessment of the class session, rather than a cumulative tally of the scores in the four previous questions. Classroom Observation Forms will be submitted to the teacher and added to her collection of teaching materials within 7 days of the observation and will be kept on file for the cumulative evaluation in the final year of the contract period. Teachers may respond in writing to the filed observation.
Last modified: July 21, 2020