EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR THE UNIVERSITY SENATE
(Proposal 11-12)
Senate Procedures 508.1.1
1.0 Introduction
Senate derives its moral authority from its representation of its constituency. It
will become a
stronger and a more effective body by advocating issues its constituency deems important
and
by improving itself with regular feedback from its constituency.
In addition, the Senate evaluates university upper administration each year and has
established
policies and procedures for periodic evaluation of Chairs and Deans, and evaluation
of faculty
by students in each course. Evaluation and survey have become easy since going electronic
and many service units are conducting surveys to improve themselves. For the sake
of
consistency and to get regular feedback the Senate needs to conduct survey and make
the
results public.
This procedure allows the Senate constituency to provide input on Senate processes,
priorities,
and communications. Improvements in these categories will make the Senate more relevant
in
the functioning of the university.
2.0 Survey Time Line
Every other year the Senate will conduct a survey electronically using all reasonable
efforts to
maintain the anonymity of the survey responder. The survey will be coordinated and
supervised
by the Senate Administrative Policy Committee. The survey instrument will be approved
by the
Senate by the end of Spring semester. The survey will be conducted over a period of
two weeks
starting on Monday of the third week of the fall semester.
3.0 Format
The Senate president will coordinate writing of a brief report, less than two pages
long, on the
accomplishment of the Senate in the year prior to the year of the survey. The report
will be
distributed to the Senate constituents prior to the survey and posted on the Senate
web page.
The report will be also linked to the electronic survey instrument.
The questionnaire section will contain questions asking for scaled responses and comments.
Scaled responses and comments will be sought for:
- effectiveness of Senate in representing constituents interests.
- prioritizing the responsibility of the Senate.
- keeping constituents informed.
Comments will also be sought for strengthening and improving the Senate and the
questionnaire. A sample questionnaire is included in the appendix.
4.0 Survey Result
- Responses from faculty and from professional staff will be compiled separately.
- The comments will be collated for each question either electronically or with help
of the
Senate Assistant. - The comments will be edited to ensure there are no personal attack on any individual
and
are fit for public distribution. Eventually these collated comments will become appendix of
the electronic report. - Senators will be requested to volunteer for purpose of writing synopsis of the comments.
If
not enough Senators volunteer then the committee may elect to not write synopsis for
certain questions and direct the reader to the collated comments in the appendix of the
report. - Statistical summary of the scaled questions, the synopsis of comments, the appendix
of the
collated comments, along with introduction and conclusion will constitute the final report. - The committee will make an oral presentation to the Senate by the end of fall semester.
The
written report will be posted on the Senate website and its link sent to all Senate
constituents, the Provost, and the members of the Board of Control.
Appendix: Sample questionnaire
The Senate establishes and participates in formulation of policies and procedures
that affect
faculty and professional staff. The implementation of these policies and procedures
are
responsibilities of other bodies like administration, academic units, and university
committees.
The Senate also has the responsibility to facilitate discussion and obtain information
on any
issue that is important to its constituent. The Senate responsibility and jurisdiction
are defined in
detail in the Senate Constitution posted on the web address https://www.admin.mtu.edu/usenate/
Brief listing of Senate responsibility and jurisdiction
- Establishes academic policies and procedures governing teaching and research that
includes but not limited to: establishment, dissolution, and changes in degree programs;
requirements for certificates and academic degrees; teaching evaluation; academic
calendar; awarding of honorary degrees; regulations governing attendance, examinations,
grading, scholastic standing, probation, and honors. - Establishes shared governance policies and procedures that includes but not limited
to: Academic freedom, rights and responsibilities; appointment, promotion, tenure,
dismissal, and leaves of the academic faculty; academic ranks; selection and evaluation of
university administrators; guidelines for academic unit charters; academic organization,
establishment or elimination of schools, colleges, or departments; and the reorganization of
the academic structure. - Advise, reviews, and participates on use of university resources that includes but
not
limited to: Fringe benefits; institutional priorities; allocation and utilization of the university’s
human, fiscal, and physical resources that affect scholarly, instructional, and research
activities; admission standards and procedures; student financial aid.
Survey Instrument
Questions on Demographics of Respondent
1. Are you Faculty or Staff?
2. Have you ever served on the Senate?
3. Have you ever attended or viewed a Senate meeting?
Questions for scaled response on a scale of 5 with space for commenting.
[The committee may choose to get comments only if a score is above or below a certain
number.]
4. Senate provided appropriate input to your group in the development of proposals
submitted
to it.
5. Senate has acted in a timely manner on proposals submitted by your group.
6. Senate has been effective in development of shared governance policies and procedures.
7. Senate has been effective in reflecting your concerns on use of university resources.
8. Senate has been effective in communicating issues that impact you.
9. Your senator keeps you informed about issues being considered by the Senate.
10. Taking everything into account the Senate is an effective body in representing
you.
Questions asking for comments
11. What kind of proposals should the Senate spend more time on?
12. What can the Senate do to get the information to you more effectively?
13. How can the Senate better meet your needs?
14. How can this questionnaire be improved?
Proposal 11-12:
Introduced to Senate: 01 February 2012
Revised and Reintroduced to Senate: 29 February 2012
Friendly amendment added in red: 2 March 2012
Approved by Senate: 04 April 2012