Sometimes higher administration gets fantastic ideas that a single policy can be applied to all departments. For example, suppose the average DFW rate for a particular class among peer institutions is around 35% but the administration decides that all classes must achieve 20% (or else faculty get fired). Grade inflation is not an option because they claim they are watching... and because that's just wrong and educators have morals.
Any recommendations for the department chair?
Any suggestions for the faculty?
P.S. Yes, I understand how insane this sounds but (unfortunately) our peers are facing this and similar situations, so if you haven't seen this before, perhaps it's not your turn yet.
As a department chair, I think you should request a meeting with your Dean or Associate Dean. Express your concerns. I have been both a Department Chair and a Dean. Believe me, a good Dean wants to hear the concerns of their faculty, and especially their Department Chairs. Another option is to express your concern with the Faculty Senate or Faculty Council. This group also wants to hear about the concerns of faculty. Best of luck to you!
Thank you very much Paul! Indeed, part of that assumes the dean is good. Still, one would hope that a sincere concern would be heard.
Dear Colton,
First, grade inflation should be considered when dealing with quality instruction. If a faculty knows that he/she will be fired, then the temptation for grade inflation. Also, the DFW criteria you referenced will favor easy and popular teachers and not the outstanding ones. Finally, any criteria and/or established standards for DFW ignores the distinctions that must be made between difficult and easy courses.
Amir
Thank you Amir. Certainly pounding on the DFW rate is absolutely not a way to judge quality teaching, or encourage it.
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