Comprehensive Standard #3.7.2 (Evaluation)

The institution regularly evaluates the effectiveness of each faculty member in accord with published criteria, regardless of contractual or tenured status.

Compliance Certification

The College of William and Mary is in compliance with this comprehensive standard.

Explanation

The Faculty Handbook and the Part-Time Faculty Handbook set forth the evaluation policies and procedures regarding all full- and part-time faculty members, respectively. The Faculty Handbook, Section 3, Part B. 2 describes the process for annual merit evaluations that set salary increments. The section makes clear also the processes and standards for retention, promotion, and tenure, and describes arrangements for post-tenure review. All schools, departments, and programs have developed and apply their own personnel procedures for merit evaluations and for retention, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review. These procedures must be consistent with the policies of the Faculty Handbook, and must be approved by the Provost. As noted in the Faculty Handbook, the recommendations for merit, retention, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review are forwarded to the appropriate college-wide committees, deans, the Provost, the President, and the Board of Visitors, as appropriate, for final decisions. (See, for example, September 2004 Report of the Committee on Retention, Promotion, and Tenure, September 2003 Report of the Committee on Retention, Promotion, and Tenure, and Minutes of the Board of Visitors Meeting September 16-17, 2004.)

The regularity of the evaluation of faculty effectiveness in accord with published criteria is evidenced by the fact that annual salaries are determined by merit reviews. The Provost, deans, and department and program chairs, directors, and personnel committees conduct these reviews even when money is not available for merit adjustments. Results of evaluations in those years are retained and entered into calculations for subsequent years when funds are available.

The Part-Time Faculty Handbook is clear about the policy for evaluating part-time faculty: "Part-time faculty are evaluated by the department chair and/or dean each semester or, if their the appointment is for both semesters, each year. Evaluation will include review of student teaching evaluations, course materials, and, in some departments and schools, peer visitation of classes. Further information on evaluation procedures is available in the manuals and handbooks of the separate Faculties."

References