Part-time Faculty Evaluation Procedures
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT MACHIAS
Policy & Procedures Manual
SUBJECT: FACULTY PERSONNEL POLICIES SECTION III
DATE: 10/04
SECTION: Procedure and Guidelines for Reviewing Part-Time Instructors
Procedure and Guidelines for Reviewing Part-Time Instructors
I. Part-time instructors with no prior teaching experience at UMM must be evaluated during their first semester.
A) A class observation of each course, by a full-time faculty member appointed by the division chair, must be done no later than the sixth week of the semester.
1) Broadcast courses (ITV, ATM, compressed video, Poly-Com) should be observed live.
2) Web-based courses (Blackboard) can be observed with an access code available from division chairs. Observers of Web courses should focus especially on the site structure and the general course communication process, plus close examination of a single course unit.
3) Instructors should be notified of course observations at least twenty-four hours in advance.
4) In the event of multiple sections of the same course, observation of one section is sufficient.
5) Optional — Multiple observations of each course are recommended but not required.
B) The part-time instructor will prepare a brief (1-2 page typically) self-evaluation of the first six weeks of their teaching experience at UMM. That self-evaluation and a syllabus for each course should be submitted to the reviewer by the end of the seventh week of the semester.
C) Following the class observation(s) and review of the self-evaluation, the observer will then engage the part-time instructor in a discussion of the class and prepare a written report to be submitted to the division chair. It is recommended that these discussions take place via phone or compressed video, rather than e-mail.
D) The observer will give a copy of their report to the part-time instructor, who then has the option of submitting a written response, to be attached to the observer’s report, within thirty days.
E) Optional — The division chair may choose to conduct their own class observation(s).
F) Optional — Follow-up discussion between the part-time instructor and the division chair may then be initiated by either party. It is recommended that these discussions take place via phone or compressed video, rather than e-mail.
G) Optional — The division chair may choose to write a letter with their own comments and assessment.
H) The reviewer’s report, instructor’s self evaluation, optional instructor’s response, and optional division chair’s letter will be forwarded to the Academic Affairs Office for review by the VPAA. These documents will then be placed in the part-time instructor’s personnel file, no later than the final class day of the semester.
II. All other part-time instructors must be evaluated during their third semester of teaching at UMM, plus every fourth semester thereafter.
A) A class observation of each course, by a full-time faculty member appointed by the division chair, must be done no later than the sixth week of the semester.
1) Broadcast courses (ITV, ATM, compressed video, Poly-Com) should be observed live.
2) Web-based courses (Blackboard) can be observed with an access code available from division chairs. Observers of Web courses should focus especially on the site structure and the general course communication process, plus close examination of a single course unit.
3) Instructors should be notified of course observations at least twenty-four hours in advance.
4) In the event of multiple sections of the same course, observation of one section is sufficient.
5) Optional — Multiple observations of each course are recommended but not required.
B) The part-time instructor will prepare a self-evaluation, focusing on their teaching experience since their last review.
1) Changes and adjustments made in response to previous reviews should be especially noted.
2)The self-evaluation, an updated vitae, and a syllabus for each course should be submitted to the reviewer. Other relevant documents may be included at the instructor’s discretion or reviewer’s request.
3) All documents must be received by the reviewer by the end of the seventh week of the semester.
C) Following the class observation(s), review of all documents provided by the instructor, and examination of student evaluations since the previous review, the observer will then engage the part-time instructor in a discussion of the class and prepare a written report to be submitted to the division chair. It is recommended that these discussions take place via phone or compressed video, rather than e-mail.
D) The observer will give a copy of their report to the part-time instructor, who then has the option of submitting a written response, to be attached to the observer’s report, within thirty days.
E) Optional — The division chair may choose to conduct their own class observation(s).
F) Optional — Follow-up discussion between the part-time instructor and the division chair may then be initiated by either party. It is recommended that these discussions take place via phone or compressed video, rather than e-mail.
G) Optional — The division chair may choose to write a letter with their own comments and assessment.
H) The reviewer’s report, instructor’s documents (self-evaluation, syllabi, vitae, optional response to reviewer, etc.), and optional division chair’s letter will be forwarded to the Academic Affairs Office for review by the VPAA. These documents will then be placed in the part-time instructor’s personnel file, no later than the final class day of the semester.