Forbes, May 20, 1996
Sir: Re “Devalued Diplomas” (Apr. 22). Over the years, there has been a gradual and subtle shift from professors running universities to students/administrators controlling higher education. Much of this power shift has resulted from the misuses and abuses of student evaluation of teaching data. Students punish difficult professors on their evaluation forms. Professors engage in impression management. Result: There has been massive grade inflation and coursework devaluation in higher education.
Dear Prof. Crumbley:
My compliments on your letter in Forbes regarding teaching evaluations. You are absolutely correct in your contention that evaluations lead to grade inflation and the of course work. An unintended (and unspoken) social contract has taken shape over the last twenty years between professors who want good evaluations and students who want good grades--I’ll make you feel good; you make me feel good.
I taught for many years at a university in Texas beginning in the ‘70s before course evaluations were widely used. The professor was freer to present more difficult material and to demand higher caliber work without the fear of being penalized by students whose egos or GPAs were deflated. When the “feel good” era hit, evaluations were introduced in our institution with the idea they would provide a confidential channel for feedback from students so instructors could ascertain their own teaching weakness. We were told initially they would not be used in tenure consideration. At first, evaluation results were “Eyes Only” and delivered directly to the instructor. Later, instructors were asked to include evaluations in their tenure packets. Now, in many institutions, the dean sees the evaluations before the instructor and weak evaluations require a lengthy rebuttal. And as we know, strong evaluations will not necessarily contribute to tenure, but poor ones will be used to deny it.
What surprises me is how few red flags are being raised over this issue. Your letter caught my eye precisely because so few professors ever raise the issue, at least publicly and in print (aside from Forbes contributor Thomas Sowell of Stanford). Perhaps it is because tenured faculty can disregard evaluations (no longer with post-tenure reviews) while the untenured zip their mouths while they quake in their boots as they attempt to be stand-up classroom comics handing out As and Bs like balloons hoping to be well liked and earn high marks. It’s all a form of academic corruption. But in a consumer-driven society where too many second rate universities chase a static pool of students who can walk with their dollars, I fear the academic circus is here to stay.
Stephen E. Rada, Ph.D. May 15, 1996
"When it is incorrect, it is, at least 'authoritatively' incorrect."
-Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Society for a Return to Academic Standards
Last Updated: February 21 1997
