Arbitration award on student evaluations of Instructors
In a precedent-setting case, an Ontario arbitrator has directed Ryerson University to ensure that student evaluations of teaching, (SIRs) “are not used to measure teaching effectiveness for promotion or tenure.”
Student Evaluations of Teachers have been found to have large biases, including, but not limited to, students’ grade expectations, instructor physical attributes, course material, size of class and whether the course is required. In fact, “the biases can be so large that more effective teachers get lower SET [Student Evaluations of Teachers] than less effective teachers”. Most of the biases are not under the control of the instructor or the institution. Expert Report by Philip B. Stark, Ph.D.
“Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs) are primarily measures of student satisfaction with their experience in a course. SETs do not accurately measure a faculty member’s teaching effectiveness as a single source and method.” Supplemental Expert report by Richard L. Freishtat, Ph.D.