The African Studies Program (ASP) identifies “excellence in teaching” as one of its criteria for promotion to senior lecturer. The ASP director will identify members of the ASP executive committee to conduct peer-evaluation of the teaching of Non-Tenure Track (NTT) lecturers and senior lecturers on a regular basis.
The peer-evaluation will take the form of a written assessment of teaching after assessment of course syllabi and classroom teaching. The latter should evaluate classroom management and engagement with students, as specified in ASP policy noting “clear course syllabi” and “professional classroom management and constructive engagement with students” as two of its criteria for excellence.
Peer-evaluation should assess language courses and, if relevant, non-language courses taught by NTT faculty in the African Studies Program.
Peer-evaluation of lecturers should occur at least once a year for language courses and, if relevant, one a year for non-language courses. Regular assessment of senior lecturers should occur at least once every two years for language courses and, if relevant, once evert two years for non-language courses.
The process should include an observation on a date agreed in advance by the NTT faculty member and the ASP executive committee member identified by the ASP director to conduct the observation. The course syllabus and relevant instructional materials for the course should be provided to the ASP director and the executive committee member in advance of the observation. A draft written report should be provided to the NTT faculty member observed and discussed with the observer. A written report of the classroom observation should be provided to the ASP director, who will review, use as one of the bases for annual merit review, and file in the NTT faculty personnel file.