Teaching Assessment Processes

The Pillars of Teaching Assessment Processes at Waterloo


Consistency, clarity, and fairness in teaching assessment

The Framework for Teaching Effectiveness provides clear expectations and integrate various dimensions of teaching to inform teaching assessment at the University of Waterloo. The Framework supports informed decision making, fosters continuous improvement, and enhances communication among faculty and administrators. It creates a unified standard for assessing teaching quality.

Key principles of Waterloo's Framework for Teaching Effectiveness

  • Fairness

  • Transparency

  • Effective evaluation processes


A balanced, holistic approach for a stronger academic community

Holistic teaching assessment is essential for creating an equitable and dynamic academic environment that drives continuous improvement in student learning experiences. By evaluating teaching from multiple perspectives, this approach ensures that decisions about merit, tenure, and promotion are informed, balanced, and reflective of the true impact instructors have on their students and the institution. Moreover, by including multiple perspectives--students, peers, and self--the the bias present in any one process will have less impact on a faculty member's overall teaching evaluation.

Key components of Waterloo's holistic model of teaching assessment