 "Photo: photo by Chris Ripley")
After graduating from the University of Miami (Ohio), Dr. Douglas W. Howard went on to earn his Doctorate Degree from the University of Rochester. The Ph.D. in English helped Dr. Howard garnish a spot on the campus of St. John Fisher University (Rochester, NY) where Dr. Howard spent over 25 years of his life molding the minds of young adults. In 2005, Dr. Howard came to Medaille where he was named the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, as well as a Professor of Humanities. Being the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Howard is responsible for the Student Opinion Survies filled out at the end of every semester.
Q: As far as teacher evaluations, how do those work in conjunction with student wants and needs, and keeping teachers around?
A: What we do is dictated by two things. One, what the faculty handbook says about how they will be used, and then a follow up about the process in which I will send a memo to the particular faculty member every semester. With a list of instructions about what to do with them, and they follow the Faculty Handbook, Paragraph 4.5.4.6, Student Opinion Surveys:
"Student Opinion Surveys also operate as a measure of a faculty member's teaching responsibilities as listed in Paragraph 4.5.3.1, Teaching Effectivenes, but faculty evaluations shall not rely exclusively on these surveys."
So both in terms of annual performance review and in terms of tenure and promotion, they become part of the faculty members Official Faculty File. That is then looked at the Department Chair, the Academic Dean or the appropriate school dean, and they are also available to the Promotion and Tenure Committee when that particular person comes up for promotion or tenure. However, there are other documents that are looked at when it comes to promoting or retaining faculty as well, but the Student Opinion Surveys are certainly important.
Q: I know some Professors and Doctors are liked more than others, causing some bad reviews to be given out. What happens when a Professor or Doctor recieves consistent bad Student Opinion Surveys?
A: That depends on the status of the faculty member. In every case, that particular faculty member is expected to respond to those student comments in a self evaluation, and then the Department Chair, Academic Dean, or Vice-President must evaluate that particular faculty members self evaluation, also having looked at the Student Opinion Surveys and that faculty member would be expected to address what they are going to do to address the Student Opinion Surveys.
Q: Lets assume that a particular faculty member continues to garnish these bad reviews, even after they have fulfilled their duties of self evaluations. What action can be taken if that particular faculty member is tenured?
A: If a particular faculty member is tenured, like in this particular case, then it is mostly working towards improvement because they have a continuing appointment to the college, which we call tenure. All tenured faculty have a periodic five year review where there is a summative look at what they have accomplished over the past five years. There is an interview committee set up which consist of mostly of the faculties peers, who then report to me as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs. It is mostly a goal of self improvement. If a faculty member were to be deemed not meeting the specific standards by this committee then we can convene what is called a Hearing Committee which we can then call for a dismissal. That has very specific guidelines we must follow.
Q: The people that I mostly talk to are communications majors, and there is one particular person who in talking, constantly comes up in conversations. What advice can you offer to students who are in the same position?
A: Any time anyone has issues with a faculty member, if they feel comfortable enough with the particular member of the faculty, the person in question should speak with the faculty member directly to try to get on the same page; if you dont feel comfortable, the person who has the problem should speak with the Department Chair of their particular department.
Q: Lets go in another direction now. I can only imagine a professor like Lou Pozantides gets wonderful reviews from his classes. He is the 6 time Professor of the Year. Why is he not a tenured faculty member?
A: What we do in a situation like with Lou is offer a non-tenured track to someone without a clinical degree in their discipline. Lou does not, neither does Lisa Van Valkinburgh, the Department Chair, for communications the clinical degree is a Doctorate, which neither have at this juncture. What we do is offer a clinical contract which basically means we sign them on to teach for us here at Medaille in three year appointments. Its not quite tenure, but it is a continual appointment process that we have with them.
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