The day is about to come when a different professor shows up at the front of the class to officiate over the instructor’s evaluation. “Students don’t take faculty evaluations seriously,”Western junior Stephanie Willett said. “Either they are mad at an instructor and wish to take out their frustrations in the evaluation or they are happy with the instructors and can’t wait to give them high marks.”

These evaluations are taken during the last two weeks of each semester. By this time a student should have a good understanding of their instructors and how well they teach. Keep in mind however that this time when the bubbles are filled out it is for the MWSU Web site. Considering Senate Bill 389 signed by Gov. Matt Blunt the next evaluations may be the first to be published on the Web site for any student to check out before enrolling in fall ’09 classes.

“I am not comfortable with posting the evaluations on the Web site,” said Western senior Magen Mann.

“It seems like the information should be private and for instructors use. If I were an instructor I wouldn’t want everyone to know what my students thought of me.” The state of Missouri may be drifting along with the changing times. Not too many years ago a university with a Web site was rare. Now most every institution has their home page on the Web.

The idea of rating professors on the Internet is not new. Sites such as rateyourprofesor.com have been a part of the ever-changing landscape of technology since facebook became popular.

 “The problem with rateyourprofessor.com is that people can be brutal,” said Western freshman Robin Geniuk. “But the faculty still could use the information to improve as teachers.”

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education approved the filing of an administrative rule to implement these provisions of the new law at its Oct. 11, 2007 meeting. The rule has been filed and requires that institutions post general course information by Aug. 1, 2008 and that institutions post faculty evaluations to inform students registering for fall ’09 classes.

“Posting the faculty evaluations is not a bad idea but I prefer talking with other students that I trust to give me an honest opinion,” Willett said.

Those who have had classes for a while are very familiar with the process of filling in the appropriate bubbles with a number two lead pencil. The question is, do students understand how this piece of paper with its bubbles is used? On the front of the faculty evaluation form is a note to the student which reads:

“Student evaluation of instructors is used for improvement of instruction. The numerical ratings are used and the written comments may also be used, at the instructor’s option, for reappointment promotion, and tenure decisions. It is important that you answer fairly and honestly. Written comments are particularly helpful to your instructor. Your evaluation will not be seen by your instructor until course grades are determined. Your signature on the form is optional.”

Students often misread this note to the student. It may be interpreted as though the information is used “at the instructors option” and many instructors wish that were the case. It is a lie. These numerical ratings are used by administration to evaluate an instructor.

“We are expected to keep student faculty evaluation numbers at an average of between one and two,” associate professor Kenneth Dagel said. This rating is at the exceptional or above average level on the form.

The written script that is to be read by the instructor officiating over the evaluation process is not clear either.

It says the evaluation of instructors is used for improvement of instruction and for reappointment, promotion, and tenure decisions.

It doesn’t say who is using the information. Students may complete the form with the idea that they are helping the  instructor go for tenure, when actually these forms are used by administration not faculty.