Mentoring Faculty to Improve Teaching and Student Learning

For teaching to improve, three factors must be in place. First, the college must use a valid and reliable student evaluation instrument in combination with other feedback mechanisms. Second, there must be an accompanying norming report that provides comparative and diagnostic information to departmental chairs and teachers. Raw data from even a valid and reliable instrument may not be informative. Third, the college must have a mentoring process in place. This article discusses briefly each of the three elements to initiate and sustain a successful mentoring program to improve teaching and student learning. Of course, if the school does not reward improved or effective teaching it is not likely to occur.