But if a student speaks what she feels is truthful in an evaluation, she may find that her academic career could be ruined by the professor. Course evaluations are a crux of Drake's student-centered learning philosophy. The power of students to express their feelings about a professor's teaching style is paramount, especially when the professor is new or holds tenure. A first-year professor needs honest, open student comments about her teaching so she can adjust her methods to be more effective in the classroom. Deans need the same level of frankness to evaluate that new professor and ensure that she is a quality staff member.
Course evaluations are equally important for classes taught by tenured faculty.
A multitude of student voices may be the only way to get a belligerent, stubborn or ineffective senior professor to rethink curriculum, grading and teaching methods. Because of their importance, it's a shame that more students don't take course evaluations more seriously. However, it is a sham to offer the appearance of confidentiality to students when it is clearly not present. When course evaluation time arrives at the end of this semester, I urge my fellow students to take some of that power your professor holds and tell her and her dean your experience in the class. I also urge the University to take those comments to heart and type student comments to ensure their secrecy.