Here from the Review Committee are some guidelines for preparing materials for reappointment review. We recognize that they are a work in progress, and both during and after the completion of your portfolio, we welcome suggestions for improving, both the process itself and the clarity of these guidelines.
This year, the period under review, regardless of how many years since your last reappointment, is the past five semesters (fall, 2011, spring, 2012, fall, 2012, spring, 2013, and fall, 2013). This period covers the duration of the new curriculum plus one previous year for those who have taught in the program for longer than the past year and a half.
The committee will expect to receive the materials listed below from all candidates for contract renewal during 2013-14. Materials should be provided in a two-inch binder with appropriate dividers and tabs, but with no plastic sleeves. Deadline for submission is Friday, January 31.
1. A self-assessment (5-10 pages) in four parts: (1) teaching philosophy, (2) analysis of selected assignments, (3) description of strategies for responding to student writing, and (4) discussion of professional development activities and their impact on teaching. For anyone who has served asa program administrator in FYW or the WRC during the review period, there is a supplemental fifth part comprised of your accomplishments in administrative service.
--The statement of teaching philosophy (part one) should articulateyour pedagogical values and your views about the means and ends, the purposes and practices, of writing instruction.
--The assignment analysis (part two) should focus on two different assignments, taken from the past three semesters, that respond to the objectives of the current curriculum, one of which you have found to be very successful and the other less successful. Explain in each case what you expected the assignment to accomplish, what you think might account for its success or failure, and how you might change it in future. Include hard copies of each assignment appended to the analysis.
--The description of response strategies (part three) should explain the various ways, oral and written, in class and out,in which you provide feedback on student work and why you prefer them. Your description should also reflecton what students have said about your feedback in their course evaluations and elsewhere.
--The professional development section (part four) should describe the ways in which your chosen professional activities outside the classroom affect your teaching and/or the quality of your understanding of, and commitment to, the writing program.
Optional: an appendix to your self-assessment may include a discussion of any negative student commentary you may have received that you believe is important enough to warrant explanation.
2. A curriculum vitae, updated since your last review.
3. A copy of the syllabus for each course (but not each section) you have taught (1100, 1101, 1102, 1103) during each of the past five semesters (or during the period you have taught in the program if it is less than five semesters). For example, if you taught four sections of 1101 during fall, 2011, then include one syllabus. If you taught two sections of 1102 and two of 1103 during spring, 2012, then include two syllabi, one for each course. If you taught an LBST course, include its syllabus.
4. All OPSCANS for the past five semesters.
5. Qualitative responses from only one class that you regard as representative from each of the past three semesters (three sets of student responses in all).
6. Peer observation(s) since your last review.
7. Annual director evaluations since your last review.
Note 1: We are not asking you to include samples of student writing, as past reviews have required.
Note 2: At the conclusion of the review process, you will receive both the committee’s and the director’s evaluations of your work.
Rev. 11-13