Career Development Program, Scope of Assessment

Faculty and Professional Staff Handbook »

All faculty are expected to be active in their fields. Teaching effectiveness, research/scholarly activity, service and professional activities which enhance the instructional experience can be demonstrated by the following:

A. Teaching

Within the context of the provisions of Article V, Academic Freedom, teaching/learning excellence can be achieved through a variety of stylistic approaches and out of a wide range of pedagogical bases. However, within this diversity, it is commonly accepted that excellence in teaching may be characterized by, for example:

• Command of one’s subject.
• Knowledge of current developments in one’s field.
• Ability to relate one’s subject to other areas of knowledge and endeavor.
• Ability to provoke and broaden student interest in one’s subject matter.
• Ability to use effective and varied teaching methods and strategies.
• Contributions to curriculum through course/curricula development or redesign.
• Contribution to the development and refinement of materials, teaching/learning techniques and the implementation of new courses and curricula.
• Possession of discipline, integrity, industry, open-mindedness, and objectivity in teaching.
• Recognition and knowledge of the general and individual academic and extracurricular needs of one’s students.
• Participation in special courses, seminars, or workshops which develop teaching skills.

The ability to speak and write efficiently and effectively.

B. Research and scholarly activity

1. Scholarly writing. This typically takes the form of publication based on peer review or other scholarly critical evaluation although some more popular publications can fulfill this standard. Although the development and refinement of courses is not per se a scholarly activity the development and refinement of courses which results in a new approach to a traditional field or helps give shape to an emerging field could also be considered a scholarly activity. Manuscripts of unpublished work may be submitted. In the case of not-yet-published work, evaluation by qualified independent reviewers is useful.
2. Scholarly talks. Normally these take the form of presentations at scholarly meetings in one’s discipline but can also include public lectures.
3. Creative work. This includes creation and interpretation of works of art in painting, sculpture, music, dance, theatre, film, video, radio, or other art forms, computer programs and other inventions and development of teaching aids such as photographs, slides and video tapes are typical examples of creative work. Where available, reviews serve as measures of the quality of the creative work. Another measure is the level of selectivity for an exhibit or performance in a certain venue, analogous to the refereeing of scholarly papers.
4. Applied Scholarship. Application of scholarly expertise to community and social problems.

C. Service

1. This includes service on University committees or task forces, the Faculty Senate, departmental committees, college-wide committees/task forces such as those for convocation, graduation, accreditation committees, the mentor/mentee program, or a study abroad student selection panel.
2. Service to community and the profession, illustrated by:
   
   • Holding office in professional organizations.
   • Working on educational committees of the State.
   • Acting as institutional liaison to agencies/organizations.
   • Offering workshops and symposia without honoraria.
   • Giving speeches/papers to community groups.
   • Presentations in classic taught by other faculty members.
   • Contributing to professional organizations/institutional position documents on public policy or legislative issues.
   • Critiquing scholarly publications and/or grant proposals.
   • Serving on Boards including editorial boards or engaging in professional services.
     
     
     
3. Consultantships with or without honoraria with/for professional organizations and societies, educational institutions, industry, government (state and federal), or inter-intra departmental.
   
   
4. Faculty mentor of student activities such as honor societies, departmental clubs, professional clubs, Greek Letter Student Organizations, the University literary magazine or newspaper.
   
   
5. Academic advisement of major or in the Advisement Center.