The Baruch College Faculty Handbook

Last updated on 1/12/2015

The following is excerpted from Article 18 (Professional Evaluation)
of the Agreement between Professional Staff Congress/CUNY
and the City University of New York, February 1, 1996-July 31, 2000
(pp. 35-36). Please note that 18.2.b.1 indicates that all non-tenured
faculty shall be observed at least once each semester and
that tenured faculty may be observed once each semester.

Article 18

Professional Evaluation

[18.] 2 (b) Teaching observation, as described below,
is one factor in total evaluation of academic performance of the
teaching staff.

1. At least once during each academic semester, non-tenured
and non-certificated members of the teaching staff shall be observed
for a full classroom period. One observation shall take place during
any scheduled class during the first ten weeks of a semester. The
employee shall be given no less than 24 hours of prior notice of
observation.

Tenured and certificated members of the teaching staff may be observed
once each semester.

2. a) Each department P & B committee shall designate a panel,
the size to be specified by the chairperson, of department observers
(which shall include members of the P & B committee). The department
chairperson shall schedule the members of this panel to conduct
observations as necessary. Each observer shall submit, through the
department chairperson, a written observation report to the department
P & B committee within one week of the observation. These observation
reports shall be considered by the committee in its total evaluation
of the employee.

(b) The department chairperson shall schedule the post-observation
conference for the employee within two weeks after receipt of the
written observation report. The post-observation conference shall
include the employee and the observer. Either a member of the P
& B committee or a member of the department with the rank of
tenured Associate Professor or tenured Professor may be assigned
by the chairperson at the request of the employee or the observer.

(c) Following the post-observation conference, the P & B representative
or the assigned senior faculty member shall prepare a record of
the discussion in memorandum form for submission to the chairperson.
If the post-observation conference includes only the observer and
the employee, than the observer shall prepare the record of the
discussion in memorandum form. The original conference memorandum
shall be placed in the employee’s personal file. The employee may
have a copy of this document provided a signed receipt is tendered.
The observation report shall be placed in the personal file.

(d) In the event that the observation or post-observation conference
is not held within the time stipulated herein, the employee shall,
within ten (10) working days thereafter, file a request for an observation
and/or conference with the chairperson. A copy of that request shall
be sent to appropriate dean and the Office of the President. Failure
of the employee to file the request within the stipulated time shall
bar the employee from subsequent complaint regarding such non-compliance
with Article 18.2 (b), 2 b) or c). Upon the receipt of the request,
the college shall cause appropriate remedial action to be taken,
including, if necessary, scheduling of an observation and/or observation
conference by the dean or President or their designee.

(e) After ten (10) semesters of service, teaching observation for
adjunct personnel shall be held at the request of the chairperson
or the adjunct.