Academic Senate Resolution, 11.30.07
Omission of Norms on Student Evaluations
Whereas, the use of student evaluation norms at HAWCC has been a custom practiced by the BEAT and LA/PS divisions; and
Whereas, the evaluation tool that generates these norms was a carryover from a time prior to the separation of HAWCC from UHH; and
Whereas, there has been no formal collective discussion about the value and meaning of the norm values or if these norms establish a meaningful standard; and
Whereas, there has been no analysis to establish in fact that the norms reported are representative of any given or collective group; and
Whereas, it has not
been determined that the norms generated from different (w/r to class size,
level, rigor, content, etc.) groups offer a meaningful basis for comparison;
and
Whereas, it has not
been determined that the norms generated from different (w/r to class size,
level, rigor, content, etc.) groups are not in fact influenced by the group
characteristic; and
Whereas, there is no way of ensuring that the conditions under which the data are collected is in anyway systematic or uniform; and
Whereas, a norm may be useful for comparison purposes when no standard exists,
the student evaluation rating provides a clear standard of
numerical values with 1 being “Strongly Agree” and 5 being “Strongly Disagree”
against which every instructor could compare her/his respective mean; and
Whereas, No other UHCC campus uses norms when analyzing course evaluations; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Academic Senate supports the omission of norms from the reports
generated by the E-Café student evaluation tool.
Unanimously Approved: November 30, 2007