Comprehensive Review of Reappointment, Renewal, and Repeated Term Appointment
Designing and Selecting the Sample
The goal in sample selection is to have a representative sample of invited students and a high response rate. This will ensure that the student evaluation data referenced in the chair’s recommendation provides an accurate picture of student opinion. E&A staff can provide departments with advice on sampling design. In many circumstances, E&A staff can also assist departments in actually selecting the sample of students who will be asked to evaluate the teaching of review candidates. Departments are encouraged to consult with E&A staff to consider the appropriate level and exact nature of the assistance that E&A will provide in a review.
Note: Though the information above is tailored to the collection of student evaluation data through a written survey, administered either on paper or electronically (i.e. Form Creator). If the department is using interviews or focus groups to solicit student feedback on the faculty member’s teaching, the same general principles of sample selection apply, but the sample size may be smaller to accommodate the more labor-intensive nature of oral evaluations.
