UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Thursday. February 15, 1996 5A LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Student, faculty speak out about instructor evaluations Critiques would aid education consumers Many of my colleagues argue that we should reject the Student Senate resolution to publicize individual course ratings. I disagree. In sum, although there are likely abuses from opening the ratings, the value we can add from such openness swamps these concerns. Here are the two key arguments against publicizing, with rejoinders. No. 1: It would confuse students. If the evaluations tell little about the quality of instruction, students could be misled into equating course popularity with substance. Response: The numbers undoubtedly are less meaningful about teaching effectiveness than we would all wish. Yet all units of the University now use these numbers to some extent in determining the effectiveness of their faculties. Because we operate administratively on the premise that the evaluations have content, why not permit students to make course choices with the same information that the University uses? To the extent that these evaluations are poor measures, then publicizing them will provide a strong incentive for the University to find a better set of measures. No. 2: Students become consumers in a course meat market. Response: That we can make education into a commodity, purchased off the rack, disturbs many faculty members. Me, too. The relationship between student and faculty members demands more of both. Yet the evaluations furnish a sense of the instructor's style, ethics, knowledge and personality. If high evaluations can be bought by giving high grades or just being an easy instructor, propositions that are not widely supported by evidence, then we already have a problem because the integrity of courses is compromised. This is a matter for ongoing administrative review and action. For example, it may be sensible to enforce grade distribution requirements on each course. But why shouldn't we, students and faculty alike, accept the premise that the student is the consumer of our offerings, and therefore should exercise careful judgment in selecting courses? The alternative is for someone else to impose his or her will upon the student, a paternalistic proposition at best. Faculty advising remains an important means of mentoring and augmenting the student's knowledge about courses and programs. Give students a chance to use this information, and I predict that it will affect — for the better — the delivery of courses. The facts of University life are that few sanctions can be applied to faculty members who are performing poorly in the classroom. Exposing evidence of low performance will cause some personal agony, and yes, some individuals will be unfairly judged. But, most importantly, it will prompt expanded efforts to improve teaching. Douglas Houston Professor of business Faculty really don't have anything to hide Jennifer Maenner (2/2/06) assumes that a faculty member opposed to releasing the results of student evaluations has something to hide. That assumption is pernicious. It suggests that consumerism makes adversaries of faculty and students. Classrooms become arenas of buyers and service-providers in relationships of mutual distrust. I don't see how this improves accountability. As a savvy service-provider, my job would be to create a false desire for an unneeded product, charge an inflated price and encourage dependency. I would care not about individual students but about profits. That is not conducive to education. Whether learning is exciting, dynamic and individual depends upon a fully-engaged relationship between faculty and students, which cannot happen in the alienated environment of the marketplace. As it applies to Robert Minor, professor of religious studies, the above assumption is simply wrong. Minor consistently receives exceptional student evaluations. His faculty peers have attended his lectures, reviewed his portfolio and judged him to be an excellent instructor who provides students the best of current scholarship. Minor's opposition to the release of student evaluations is a matter of conviction and principle. The level of debate would be raised if supporters granted their opponents a motivation of integrity and not of fear. Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz Professor and chairwoman of religious studies Opening evaluations breeds academic malls The call from students for the public release of faculty evaluations under the banner of consumer rights comes as no surprise in a culture where everything and everyone is for sale. Under this market mentality, faculty are seen as being hired by students to deliver knowledge, or better yet a degree, which is a commodity that is simply bought with tuition. "paid for it, it's mine. I don't have to actually work for it," is what we will hear. After all, as a consumer it's XVZ, Inc. that has to earn MY business, not the other way around. Since administrators, the public and now students are increasingly enamored with the idea of turning the University into a downsized, corporate discount mall, I say let's not fool around. Let's go all the way. We can convert KU into a factory outlet where storefront departments rent space and compete for customers. Former faculty, reclassified as sales associates, can parade around with corporate logos on their name tags, greeting folks at the door with a friendly smile. The timetable of classes could be transformed into a slick mail order catalog, advertising courses that fit that certain dream lifestyle. And when business is slow, departments can offer discounted degree requirements. I can see it now ... a moving promotional sign streaming across the top of the Fraser Hall Warehouse: "End of Year Clearance Sale-Get your degree at 20 percent off." Bill Staples Bill Staples Associate professor of sociology Economic pressure is a more important issue As a tenured professor who takes teaching very seriously, I have been disturbed by the terms of the debate about publicizing student evaluations. I'm not particularly concerned about publicizing student evaluations — I've been in places where they were publicized and places where they weren't, and didn't see that much of a difference — but rather with what it means to teach and learn, and the role of tenure. Students are consumers, knowledge isn't a product, and teachers are neither producers nor distributors. Students and teachers are partners in the business of learning. The basic issue is whether a particular policy promotes that partnership or splinters it. Tenure is not an invitation to do nothing. Nationally, faculty members — a large minority of whom are tenured — work an average of 55- to 60-hour weeks. And in the state of Kansas, where Regents institutions give raises based solely on merit, faculty members whose research and teaching are not both pretty good find their salaries rapidly falling behind inflation As Hector Clark's evaluations showed, one student's most wonderful teacher is another student's lousiest. the real issue is the economic pressure that makes it harder for students and teachers to respond to each other — pressure for larger classes, higher teaching loads, and so on. This is a national issue, it is happening everywhere, and that is what we should be talking about. Judith Roitman Professor of mathematics Students should know what they're getting I am writing in response to comments made by Elizabeth Banks, associate professor of classics, in an editorial by Tom Moore in your February 6 issue. According to the piece, Banks claims to be against students having access to instructor evaluations on the premise that such access reflects a "consumer mentality" which she feels does not belong on the campuses of America's colleges. According to Banks, this consumer mentality not only has no place in higher education but it is "anti-academic." As one of many students who value their dollar as much as their education, I strongly disagree with Banks' comments. After all, what is more academic than students using the intelligence and reasoning they have worked and paid for to make an educated decision about what they want in a professor? Banks' comments seem to reflect a time period, perhaps some thirty years ago, when students were mainly 18 to 22 years of age and were at a university under the economic umbrella of their parent's wallet. She seems to forget that today's student may or may not fit into this traditional category. She should note that many of us are married, hold down part- or full-time jobs and even have children. How then can a consumer mentality not be held by those of us who have a genuine consumer interest in our education? One would not invest their money in a car without prior knowledge of its reliability, nor in a house without having some sort of written history. Why then should students be expected to invest their money into a class without first knowing what kind of professor they can expect once they arrive? As Moore said, "Students deserve value for their money. They have a right to information which pertains to their education." It's just common sense, and it's a way to make sure you're getting what you're paying for. Chad Snoddy Lawrence junior How to submit letters and guest columns Letters: Should be double-spaced typed and fewer than 200 words. Letters must include the authors signature, name, address and telephone number plus class and hometown if a University student. Faculty or staff must identify their positions. Guest columns: Should be double-spaced typed with fewer than 700 words. All letter and guest columns should be submitted to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Staufer-Flint Hall. The Kansan reserves the absolute right edit, cut to length or out-right reject all submissions. For any questions, call Paul Todd, editorial editor, or Craig Lang, associate editorial editor, at 864-4810. 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Every Thurs day night after 5 pm, stud ents can skate for just $3 (skate rental is additional). Call Now! Charge By Phone:(816)471-0400 Christopher Parkening RAVEL Rapsodie espagnole VIVALDI/PUJOL Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra Sponsored by the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee RESPIGHI The Pines of Rome classical guitarist ALBINONI/McGLAUGHLIN Adagio FRIDAY 8 P.M. February 16 SATURDAY 8 P.M. February 17 SUNDAY 2 P.M. February 18 Concert Comments free to ticketholders one hour prior to each performance LYRIC THEATRE 11th and Central THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY William McGlaighlin, conductor Humann Arts National Kendall Center $4 Student (Tickets on sale 2 hours prior to concert) Express Bravo Broadway Twof March 12 Silvia Marcovici, violinist March 22-24 Coming Attractions The Biggest Sound Around. To hear selections, call STAR TOUCH 889-STAR (889-7827) and enter 5775. ELEVENT UNION ACTIVITIES SUA FILMS Thursday, Feb. 15 Thursday 7:00pm EXOTICA WILD AT HEART Thursday 10:00pm ALL HUMS SCREENED BY WOODRITE ADDICTORIA LEVEL 5, KANSA AS UNION, FREE WITH SA MONEY CARDS. CALL 864-SHOW FOR MORE INFO. Crown Cinema BEFORE 6 PM. ADULTS $3.00 (LIMITED TO SEATING) SENIOR CITIZENS $3.00 VARSITY VARSITY 1015 MASSAC HUSEETTS 841-5791 Leaving Las Vegas $ ^{R} $ 5:00,7:15,9:30 HILLCREST 825 IOWA 841-5191 The JurorR Bed of RosesG 12 MonkeysG Sense & SensibilityG From Dusk Till DawnG Mr. Holland's OpusG 4:45, 7:10, 9:50 5:00, 7:25, 9:40 4:15, 7:15, 9:40 4:45, 7:20 9:55 5:00, 8:00 CINEMA TWIN 3110 IOWA 841-5191 $1.25 Ace Ventura $^{2013}$ 5:00:7.30:9.20 Babe$^B$ 5:15:7.15 Surkirk Death$^R$ 9:35 SHOWTIMES FOR TODAY ONLY Sat/Sun Fri/Mon-Tuesday Bridges of Madison County **11:10** 4:20 7:10 10:00 White Square **11:10** 1:20 4:20 7:20 10:00 Dead Man Walking® 1:30 4:20 7:10 9:40 Juniper **11:10** 1:30 4:20 7:10 9:50 Broken Arrow® 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:50 Black Sheep® 1:00 4:00 7:00 9:40 $35 Adults Before Hearing Dolby 6:00 P.M. Impaired Stirred Friday, Feb. 16 - Sunday, Feb. 18 STUDENT UNION ACTIVITIES SUA FILMS STRANGE DAYS Friday 7:00 & 9:30 PM Saturday 7:00 & 9:30 PM Sunday 2:00 PM THE THE OUTSIDERS Friday and Saturday Midnight Midnight AUTHORIZED DEVICES WORLDWIDE AIRDRIEUSES FREE WITH SUA LUNA CAR CASE 14-5 SHOW YOUR DESIGN Thursday, Friday, & Saturday $2.00 Cheeseburger & Fries All Cans $1.50 507 W. 14th Spicy Red Wine Sauce!!! Almost the Weekend Thursday Special!! RUDY'S HIZZERA 740-0057 OM JJ Large Pizza 2 toppings 2 drinks Open 7 days a week ---