Why an evaluation system is needed (Score 1)

The following is a letter I wrote a year ago defending the RIT Professor Evaluation System (http://professor.ritstuff.com).

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A majority of students on campus find the PES a valuable tool; this was made obvious by the outpouring of support from students following the forced shutdown of the system. The current 'official' pencil and paper system RIT uses for evaluating professors is not sufficient, nor are it's results made public. The PES was created to meet the shortcomings of RIT's system.

Students at RIT pay thousands of dollars in tuition. They pay this money in return for a first-rate education. Why should a student have to settle for a professor that is sub-par, or doesn't mesh well with their learning style?

The PES system is needed for two reasons:

First, it allows students to identify professors that integrate well with their learning style. There is a multitude of teaching styles at RIT, since a student's goal is to receive the best education possible; students need to choose a professor with a teaching style that is effective.

The PES allows students to easily identify how professors conduct their lectures. A few of the questions that are often answered by the PES include:

• Does this professor use PowerPoint slides?
• Are these slides available online?
• I don't learn well by taking many notes, does the class involve writing for 2 hours straight, or is the lecture more thoughtful and interactive?
• Does this professor favor group projects?
• If I happen to miss a class, does this professor post notes and/or homework assignments online?
• What type of testing does this professor employ, essay tests, multiple choice, the sometimes nice but often harder take home tests?
• Does this professor permit note cards with formulas for math-based tests?
• How helpful is this professor outside of the classroom? I often need extra help after class, and a professor that is in their office often is beneficial for me.

The second reason students need the PES is to identify substandard professors. I can attest from personal experience, and I'm sure many others will agree with me: There are a small percentage of professors at RIT that are inadequate. To put it bluntly, they are not good at teaching. They may be very intelligent and proficient in their field, but when attempting to convey these concepts to students, they lack any ability. These are the professors that often received the nasty and/or offensive comments.

Although the PES has some flaws, and has been unfair to a small number of professors, the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages. The criticism should not be focused on the PES; the public outcry should be directed towards the RIT administration for not changing the official system to meet the needs of the students. The students have demanded a system like this, and unless RIT revamps its official evaluation system, the PES will be a popular tool on campus.