Student Evals Are Given More Respect Than They Should

When it comes to evaluating their college professors, students’ opinions are sometimes given more respect than is good for their education. by Warren Treadgold At most universities today, undergraduate and graduate teaching is judged primarily or even exclusively on the basis of teaching evaluations written by a professor’s students. This system invites corruption, and results in it. A professor who receives many unfavorable student evaluations is probably doing something wrong, but a professor who receives many favorable evaluations may not be a good teacher at all. Many candid student evaluations appear on the nationwide website RateMyProfessors.com, which includes ratings only from […]

Texas Senate Bill Bars College Profs from “Compelling” Students to Adopt Certain Political Beliefs

Critics say Senate Bill 16 is overly vague and will create a chilling effect that will prevent important conversations about race and gender. But Republican supporters say the legislation is necessary to protect conservative students who are self-censoring in the classroom. by Kate McKee The Texas Senate approved a bill recently that would prohibit a college or university professor from “compelling” a student to adopt certain political beliefs, a proposal belonging to a slew of legislation introduced this session that university and community college faculty worry will restrict academic freedom in the classroom. The bill now heads to the Texas […]