In Fall 2023, the UNC System released an updated Teaching Effectiveness Policy. The new policy calls for the development of campus-specific teaching effectiveness policies. Each campus-specific policy must:
- “…Define, encourage, and measure teaching effectiveness, in accordance with the mission of the institution…”
- Apply to scheduled course instruction, research and creativity supervision, course and course material development, supervision of graduate assistants, academic advising, and supervision of internships and experiential opportunities.
- Include multiple inputs, including both formative and summative data. Student course evaluations can account for one input, but additional inputs must be included, such as peer observation, self-reflection, and student work products.
- Include training and support infrastructure for the collection and documentation of inputs.
- Include Teaching Effectiveness in faculty workload plans, annual evaluations, reappointment and promotion processes, and post-tenure review.
In January 2024, a UNCG Teaching Effectiveness Working Group was established to explore teaching effectiveness frameworks, explore current campus practices for evaluating teaching, and draft a UNCG Teaching Effectiveness Framework and subsequent policy. The Working Group will develop a campus-specific teaching effectiveness policy to meet the UNC System requirement. The policy will be supported by a UNCG Teaching Effectiveness Framework that communicates UNCG’s teaching culture and recognizes the variety teaching practices that constitute effective teaching across contexts at UNCG. The Working Group aims to support evidence-based best practices and align the evaluation of teaching effectiveness with UNCG’s institutional mission and values.
In early February, the Working Group began consulting with Dr. Shawn Simonson, Professor of Kinesiology at Boise State University, and expert in teaching effectiveness frameworks.
The Working Group will work in three phases, with a final policy implementation scheduled for January 2025.
- Phase One (Spring 2024): Gathering of campus and broader best practices in teaching evaluation and teaching effectiveness frameworks. The Working Group co-chairs will present an update to Faculty Senate on April 3, followed by the release of a campus-wide survey on best practices in teaching evaluation.
- Phase Two (Summer 2024): Development and drafting of campus Teaching Effectiveness Framework and Policy.
- Phase Three (Fall 2024): Presenting draft framework and policy to campus for feedback and review.
The Teaching Effectiveness Working Group includes the following members:
- Laurie Kennedy-Malone, Professor, School of Nursing (Co-Chair)
- Laura Pipe, Interim Director, UTLC (Co-Chair)
- Risa Applegarth, Associate Professor and Director of College Writing, English
- DeAnne Brooks, AP Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Kinesiology
- Mya Brown, Assistant Professor, Theatre
- Cindy Brooks Dollar, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Sociology
- Maria Mercedes Freeman, Senior Lecturer and Director of Language Instruction of the Basic Language Program in Spanish, LLC
- Jesse Ford, Assistant Professor, Teacher Education and Higher Education
- Channelle James, Lecturer, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality & Tourism
- Jodi Pettazzoni, Associate Vice Provost and Director, Office of Assessment, Accreditation and Academic Program Planning
- Meredith Powers, Assistant Professor, Social Work
- Anthony Taylor, Associate Professor of Clarinet, School of Music
- Elizabeth Tomlin, Senior Lecturer and Director of General Biology, Biology
- Leila Villaverde, Professor, Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations
Please direct any questions to the Teaching Effectiveness Working Group Co-Chairs, Laurie Kennedy-Malone at lmkenne2@uncg.edu and Laura Pipe at lmpipe@uncg.edu.
