Tenure, Promotion and Teaching Evaluation

A significant change occurred in 1983 when Dean Meisels required the use of outside letters to evaluate the research and achievements of anyone being considered for tenure/promotion. Typically, six such letters are needed out of the 8 to 12 requested. Also required are materials that support quality teaching. Teaching evaluations filled out by students are the major source materials. These were initiated in the mid 1970s and have become an integral part of tenure/promotion documentation as well as for salary raises. There always have been disputes on how teaching quality should be assessed and how any such information should be used.