Click
here to download a pdf version
of these guidelines for peer visits to classes.
Guidelines
reaffirmed by department on February 7, 2003.
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Peer
visits to classes may contribute significantly not only
to evaluation of colleagues, but also to their development
as effective teachers. Peer visits concerned with mentoring
may be followed by written comments that serve as useful
bases for discussions of pedagogy. Written comments intended
primarily for mentoring may not be included in department
files or in candidates' files used for personnel reviews.
The remainder of these guidelines for peer visits pertain
to the use of visits for evaluation rather than mentoring.
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The
chair will visit classes of first-year faculty and of reappointment
candidates during their second year of service and of tenure
candidates during their fifth year of service. The chair
may choose or be invited to visit classes at other times.
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In
addition to the chair, at least two other department members
selected by candidates will visit classes of reappointment
candidates during their second year of service and of tenure
candidates during their fifth year of service. Candidates
may also invite additional members of the department to
visit their classes.
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Visitors
should observe no fewer than two classes. Candidates may
invite visitors to attend more classes.
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Class
visitors will make appointments with candidates for class
visits and will not attend classes unannounced.
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Visitors
should, when possible, try to schedule visits so as to cover
as wide a range of courses, instructional methods, and materials
as feasible.
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Before
class visits, candidates should supply colleagues with copies
of the syllabus, any relevant assignments, and any relevant
information about the design and goals of the course and
the particular class meeting.
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Visitors
will normally remain for the duration of the class and will
try, as far as possible, to observe the coverage of an entire
topic or text.
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Visitors
should not participate directly in the class unless invited
to do so by the candidate.
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Visitors
should report to candidates either orally or in writing
shortly after their class visits.
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If
the report of the class visit has been delivered to the
candidate orally, the candidate may summarize the comments
and request that the visitor sign the summary.
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Written
reports of class visits are entered into the departmentŐs
personal file for the candidate. The candidates may, at
their option, include these reports in personnel files used
for second-year, third-year, tenure, and promotion reviews.
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Visitors
may draw on their observations in the department's meetings
to review candidates and may incorporate their observations
into letters for candidates' reappointment, tenure, or promotion.
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In
order to continue a dialogue on pedagogy, candidates may
request to visit the classes of visitors.