Annual Performance Evaluation

It is CCS’s goal to evaluate the performance of each full-time faculty member annually. The purpose of the evaluation is to provide the Department Chair and the faculty member an opportunity to review the faculty member’s work during the past year, to outline the strengths and weaknesses in the faculty member’s performance, to share concerns and criticisms, to lay out a plan for the faculty member’s work in the coming year, and generally to provide support, encouragement, and direction to the faculty member in the pursuit of excellence.

The annual performance evaluation procedure is as follows:

Faculty are evaluated on the basis of the work of the academic year that is concluding, including how they have addressed the expectations articulated in the evaluation of the previous academic year. The evaluation is based on the criteria established in Duties and Responsibilities of Full-Time Faculty.

The evaluation process consists of a meeting of the faculty member with the Department Chair at which the following written materials are discussed:

  1. An annual performance evaluation by the faculty member of their activities in the past year and plans for the coming year is submitted to the Department Chair at least two weeks before the scheduled review.
  2. A written appraisal of the faculty member’s performance is prepared by the Department Chair, or in the case of the Chair themselves, their Dean taking into consideration the faculty member’s annual performance evaluation. The Chair forwards their written appraisal to the faculty member at least a week before the scheduled review.
  3. Institutional student evaluations are consistent with the form approved by the Faculty Assembly and College administration.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chair and faculty member sign the annual report and the Chair’s review, indicating that each party has seen and read each document, but not necessarily indicating agreement with the comments. The Department Chair and faculty member endeavor to complete this portion of the evaluation by June 1.

The Department Chair should forward all documents pertaining to the evaluation to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Studies. The faculty member should receive copies of all documents sent to the Dean, including the summary.  In the event that the faculty member disputes the evaluation, the faculty member and Chair should seek to resolve the disagreement. The faculty member may respond in writing to the review. The Chair may amend the annual appraisal in light of this discussion. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the faculty member may ask, in writing, that the Dean review the evaluation and convene a meeting of the Chair and faculty member, after which the Dean will make a determination as to whether the evaluation should be modified. The Dean’s determination is final and will be made within 30 days of receiving the written request for review. However, the faculty member may bring to the Faculty Concerns Committee any grievances related to termination, contract non-renewal, or contract length reduction.

From time to time, faculty members may teach in departments other than the department to which they are appointed. It is important, in developing a complete picture of the faculty member’s performance, that the annual evaluation covers performance in these classes as well. In such cases, the Chair of the additional department should write a summary of the faculty member’s performance and submit it to the Chair of the faculty member’s home department for inclusion in their written evaluation.

The records of all faculty evaluations are maintained in confidential digital folders created by the Academic Affairs office. Faculty have the opportunity to add documentation to these folders during the reappointment/rank advancement process. The Academic Affairs Deans supervise the evaluation process and ensure that the procedures described in the Handbook are followed.  It is the responsibility of the faculty member to ensure that their file is up to date when up for renewal. The Dean of Academic Affairs establishes procedures for the maintenance and use of the faculty files, including who has access to them and for what purposes.