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parently, about two-thirds of the faculty think that half or more of our students do not qualify under the state's concept for admission to our university.
One theory held by faculty is that declining qualifications and increasing grade inflation among recent new teachers is a cause of this problem. Based on data published each semester at CSUF, one finds that students who plan to be teachers (e.g., majors in Child Development) have some of the highest grade point averages (GPAs) on the campus. When asked if students with the highest GPAs are indeed the best students, only 12.7%* thought these "future teachers" are our best students; about twice as many rated these students as below average on the campus, and 55.8% judged them average. When asked, what percentage of undergraduates who want to be teachers do you think should become teachers, nearly two thirds (63%*) of respondents said that half or fewer than half should become teachers. Perhaps students who received inflated grades in college give inflated grades when they become teachers, leading to further declines in standards.
When asked, what percentage of graduates in your department possess the general education, specific skills, and knowledge base that should be required of a graduate...," the median response was 60%. Thus, the average faculty member believes that two out of every five of our graduates are not qualified to receive the degrees we confer upon them! The requirements for receiving a degree do not ensure that the graduate is competent, in the opinion of the faculty. Apparently, incentives to lower grading standards result in the "production" of unqualified graduates who don't deserve their degrees. It would be interesting to ask faculty, should degrees awarded in this system be accredited?
A Summary of Comments and Opinions
I received many comments and messages by email, some with suggestions for revisions and extensions of the questionnaire for future studies. I received many criticisms of student evaluations and their misuse in promotion and tenure decisions. One person informed me of a multiple section experiment conducted over several years in Engineering. This study showed that a teacher who consistently got the lowest exam performance (students in all sections took the same exams) consistently got the highest student evaluations.
A representative sample of comments, grouped roughly by topic, follows:
"Student evaluations are a form of blackmail of untenured faculty." "Student evaluations are very biased as they are used to 'get back' at teachers." "Good teaching has little to do with good evals. I try to achieve both, but it's a stretch.""I think the student evaluations need serious reevaluation and revamping." "Do students evaluate how much they 'like' the course or how much they 'learn?'" "Evals measure 'satisfaction' not 'performance'; measures not validated." "Students are not qualified to assess a teachers ability until they have completed their work." "Most students don't take them seriously. They rush through them."
"I take evals seriously. Sometimes get good suggestions." "Most students provide fail (sic) and reasonable evaluations of teaching."
"Based on my experience, by far the biggest of these (biases) is personality. None (are unbiased)" " Small class size and interactive methods are most important!"
" higher standards=lower enrollments but raised evaluations; FTE pressure is the problem." "Raising standards makes more students drop out, resulting in decreased learning for them." "I think more content makes more people drop the class." "(I'm) retiring partly because of lower standards."
"Students today tend to be consumers, not producers, and expect to be given their educ." "Student ability to understand basic concepts has definitely decreased over the years." "Students in all areas are less prepared. I don't believe this problem is unique to Teacher Educ."
"Student evals are given too much weight & not enough to other types of teaching assessment" "Student evaluations should be optional and not used for promotion/tenure decisions." "Student opinion surveys do not give the teacher feedback on how to improve, or on student learning." "I object to the anonymity of student evaluations as well."
"Student evals tend to be one of the major obj. (sic) criteria used to evaluate teachers."
"I think the system of evaluation and tenure at CSUF 'actively 'encourages dumming down in courses. " "Mid Semester Evals returned to faculty only would help quality of the teaching...Overall evals r dum." "Student evals at our shop have very poor psychometric properties but get heavy use for merit and t&p"
"Student evaluations lower faculty morale, as faculty must cater to student expectations."
"the 'survey' is a little too obvious." "I think I see where your are going with this and I fully agree with what appears your direction." "While basic, this is a good first start!"
Continued
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