History of the Holistic Model of Teaching Assessment

An Evolving Model of Teaching Assessment

The University of Waterloo has been refining its approach to teaching assessment for several years:

  • In 2014, a working group (Course Evaluation Project Team, or CEPT) was established to consider the development of a new common survey instrument. CEPT was made up of faculty members, students, and support staff. CEPT's work resulted in the 2022 University wide adoption of the Student Course Perceptions (SCP) survey - in place of the 14+ course evaluation surveys that were being used across the University.
  • In 2018, a second working group (Complementary Teaching Assessment Project Team, or CTAPT) was established to consider methods of teaching assessment that would complement the SCP survey. CTAPT's work was completed over several years by a dedicated group of faculty members, students, and support staff. CTAPT's work resulted in a set of recommendations that were endorsed by Senate in 2021.
  • In 2021, the Teaching Assessment Processes (TAP) office was established to support the UW-wide implementation of the processes as developed and recommended by CTAPT.

Timeline of the Developments to Teaching Assessment Processes

  1. 2014
    1. Jan

      1. UW initiates review of student course evaluation surveys.

        Course Evaluation Project Team (CEPT) forms through the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Academic; tasked with researching and recommending on the use of student course evaluation surveys. 

  2. 2017
    1. Sep

      1. Senate receives and endorses CEPT report with recommendation to move forward with development of a common survey for entire University. 

        Senate also hears Faculty Association representative request for a working group to research and develop methods for assessing teaching and learning complementary to student surveys. 

  3. 2018
    1. Jan

      1. Following successful OCT 2017 Senate motion, Complementary Teaching Assessment Project Team (CTAPT) is established to research and develop teaching assessment methods framework complementary to student surveys. 

  4. 2020
    1. May

      1. Senate receives and endorses CEPT's final report, including the adoption of the new Student Course Perceptions (SCP) survey for university-wide implementation.

        Senate also receives and endorses CTAPT report, including the recommendation for summative assessment of teaching that considers many sources of information and includes mechanisms for the consideration of teaching dossiers and peer review of teaching. 

  5. 2021
    1. Feb

      1. Teaching Assessment Processes (TAP) office established to implement Senate-endorsed processes recommended by CTAPT: Peer Review of Teaching and Teaching Dossiers. 

    2. Jul

      1. CTAPT wraps up consultations with faculty and publishes report revealing faculty support for the incorporation of teaching dossiers and the peer review of teaching into Waterloo’s teaching assessment practices. 

  6. 2022
    1. Apr

      1. Student Course Perception (SCP) surveys launch at the University of Waterloo. 

  7. 2024
    1. Mar

      1. Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo reports a unanimous recommitment to the Peer Review of Teaching (PRT) model recommended by CTAPT and endorsed by Senate.