A survey of selected administrative practices supporting student evaluation of instruction programs

A mail survey of 333 American universities was conducted to assess the current status of Student Evaluation of Instruction. Based on a 68% return, it was concluded that there has been an increase in the popularity of student ratings as a means of evaluating faculty performance, as well as an increase in the frequency with which evaluation results are used in decisions concerning faculty status. However, at most universities, research on the rating instruments does not seem to have kept pace with the decisions that are based on the rating instruments.