Trusteeship - May/June 2020 - 7

The University of
Houston to Pay Tuition
for Families Earning
$65,000 or Less
THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Board of Regents
announced on February 27 that beginning in fall
2020, the University of Houston will cover full tuition
for students whose family's total income is $65,000
or less. These guidelines are part of the university's
Cougar Promise program, which began in 2008.

New Study
Shows that
Student
Evaluations
of Teachers
Are Flawed

E

VEN WHEN STUDENT
EVALUATIONS of teaching are
designed to be reliable and unbiased,

a new study says that they may still be unfair,
according to new research.
"Unbiased, Reliable, and Valid Student

These new qualifications are an expansion of this

Evaluations Can Still Be Unfair," published

existing program. To qualify for the program, the

in Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education,

students must (1) be Texas residents, (2) be a first-time

highlights the problems and biases present in
student evaluations of professors. The study

freshman, and (3) must enroll full time. To be eligible

attempts to assume the best of these evaluations

for yearly renewal, students must earn at least a

before delving into the study of their quality and

2.5 cumulative grade point average and earn a
minimum of 24 credit hours per academic year.
"Your family's income bracket shouldn't limit your
ability to achieve a college degree. Talented people
come from all socioeconomic backgrounds, so I'm

reliability.
Authors Justin Esarey and Natalie Valdes, an associate
professor and research fellow in the Department of
Political Science at Wake Forest University, did an analysis
through "computational simulation" to show that even when
circumstances are ideal, evaluations are still highly unreliable.
Large differences in evaluation scores failed to identify the best

thrilled there will be more financial aid available for

teacher reliably in comparisons. This study also indicated that

those UH students who need it most," said Tilman

using "multiple imperfect measures" could lead to fairer results.

Fertitta, chairman of the UHS Board of Regents.

The paper cites that "using invalid, unreliable, or biased student
evaluations to make decisions about hiring and tenure is obviously
harmful to students and faculty alike." Even worse, it says, "biased
student evaluations of teachers could disadvantage faculty from
underrepresented minority groups or punish faculty members who
teach unpopular required courses."
"Our simulation indicates that evaluating instruction using
multiple imperfect measures, including but not limited to student
evaluations of teaching, can produce a fairer and more useful result
compared to using student evaluations of teaching alone," noted the
authors in the paper's abstract.

SHUTTERSTOCK

SHUTTERSTOCK

MAY. JUN. 2020  TRUSTEESHIP  7
Trusteeship - May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Trusteeship - May/June 2020
