Faculty annual evaluations are central to our achievements as an institution and our ability to accomplish the goals of the Lead On, University strategic plan. Although we modified our evaluation system for 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, in 2022 we returned to numerical ratings and the Summary Report of Annual Evaluation as used prior to the pandemic.
Starting with the evaluation of faculty activities for the 2023 calendar year, we will no longer include decimals when assigning scores within the individual areas within the distribution of effort (Teaching, Research and Creative Activity, and Service). Composite scores may include one decimal point.
During the probationary period, a faculty member will be provided by the chair/director of the academic unit with both an annual, written evaluation of performance during the past calendar year and a progress towards tenure letter that reviews the faculty member’s entire probationary period at the University.
Such annual evaluation from the most recent spring evaluation cycle shall be provided prior to the applicable notification deadline for reappointment, with a copy sent to the dean.
(Norman Campus Faculty Handbook 3.7.3.I)
Annual faculty evaluations are conducted each calendar year and shared with the faculty member. During the final year of the multi-year term a faculty member will receive a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of their performance for the entire multi-year term. The unit and college specify the procedures for conducting the comprehensive evaluation.
As stated in the faculty handbook 3.13.3, “renewable term instructors and lecturers should be evaluated annually following the department or school/college faculty evaluation processes, using the Faculty Activity System. All evaluations should be based upon the appointee’s teaching and service performance as defined by the academic programs.”
The factors that contribute to quality and impactful teaching are many and varied. The policy should list any types or sources of evidence that demonstrate the outcomes of teaching, including any of the criteria for Promotion that may also be relevant for annual evaluation purposes.
In addition to teaching, renewable term faculty may also be expected to contribute to service and research and creative activities within a unit. In these cases, evaluation criteria for service and research/creative activity efforts should be articulated, and adapted from the norms followed for Regular faculty within the unit.
