Annual Evaluation: Adjuncts and GATs
Purpose
All adjunct faculty and graduate assistants with teaching responsibilities (GATs) receive an annual performance evaluation by their Department Chairperson. The annual performance evaluation process for adjunct faculty and GATs in the SPH is intended to provide feedback and support regarding expectations of teaching performance and to facilitate the development of teaching and instruction skill.
Scope
To ensure the delivery of high quality instruction of assigned courses by an adjunct instructor, or GATs, as well as continued employment as an instructor of record within the School of Public Health.
Occurrence
The review period for the annual performance evaluation is the academic year and annual evaluations must be completed by June 30th following the spring semester.
Overview
The annual performance evaluation will include a review of all student evaluation instruction data, syllabi, course materials, and classroom observation summary completed by the Program Director or designee, when appropriate.
Student evaluation of instruction (SEI) – Students are given the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback to course instructors at the end of each semester. Their perspective is highly valued as it provides instructors’ information about the students’ learning experience, which can then be used to modify the design of the course for future semesters and also included in the packet of material for annual performance evaluations.
Observational feedback – Adjunct faculty and GATs may be formally observed by a Program Director or designee in online and/or in-person classroom formats, when appropriate, using the provided standard evaluation form. The SPH reserves the right to observe a class at any time; however, the Instructor will be notified prior to the observation. An Instructor may also request a formal observation at any time. The observer’s comments and/or suggestions will be provided to the Instructor by email after each visit, and further dialog with the observer will be encouraged. If necessary, an individualized professional development plan will be implemented to address any concerns with the evaluation or observation. The observational feedback will be submitted to the appropriate Department Chairperson to be included as part of the annual performance evaluation.
Process (adjunct faculty member and GATs)
- Gather documentation.
Required documentation
- Letter of Appointment and sequential addendum(s) or MOU(s)
- Department Chairperson Evaluation and Goals Letter from previous year (if applicable)
- SEI (Student Evaluation of Instruction) Summary Statements or equivalent.
- Course syllabi for each course taught during the evaluation period
- Observational feedback of teaching (if applicable)
Suggested supporting documentation
- Curriculum Vitae, updated
- Submit materials by email to the appropriate Department Chairperson
The deadline to submit materials is May 15th at 11:59.59 PM.
Process (department chairperson)
The Department Chairperson has until June 30th to review and evaluate all adjunct faculty members and GATs that taught on behalf of their department. The review letter will be submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
If a Department Chairperson fails to complete the performance evaluation or if an adjunct faculty member or GAT fails to follow this SOG, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs reserves the right to withhold reappointing that adjunct faculty member or GAT until the evaluation is complete.
Last reviewed/updated: 6/24/2022