Student Assembly

As discussed Thursday, 1 March 2007.

A Sense of Body Resolution

Whereas, the quality of undergraduate teaching significantly influences a student’s college experience;

Whereas, superior teaching should be recognized, appreciated, and rewarded;

Whereas, Cornell University does not grant any teaching awards that are created or managed by students, nor does Cornell University grant any teaching awards that are based entirely on student feedback, nor does Cornell University present a transparent process for determining teaching awards;

Whereas, course evaluations are not available to students, and thus, students have less of an incentive to treat course evaluations seriously;

Whereas, Cornell course evaluations have already been bypassed by informal alternatives such as “RateMyProfessor.com;”

Whereas, our university should recognize those professors with outstanding course evaluations, as positive evaluations signify a dedication to undergraduate teaching;

Whereas, numerous members of the Cornell community have expressed support for the creation of a “Students’ List,” a parallel of the “Dean’s List,” which would distinguish those professors who receive superior reviews or demonstrate significant progress on course evaluations;

Whereas, the creation of a “Students’ List” would encourage university professors to improve the quality of undergraduate teaching, as such an award has the potential to become one of the highest teaching prizes at Cornell;

Whereas, this award will prompt more students to complete course evaluations and will encourage students to spend more time responding to such evaluations, leading to increased responses and higher quality data;

Whereas, this idea can be expanded to include other awards such as the “Students’ List for Distinguished Professors,” the “Students’ List for Distinguished Teaching Assistants,” and the “Distinguished Young Teacher” award, whose recipients will be nominated though the Students’ List and decided by a committee of current students and young alumni;

Whereas, this award will integrate both current students and young alumni, who are the only individuals who can determine whether a course provides a solid foundation for courses at the next level and offer a perspective a course within the larger framework of their secondary education;

Whereas, this award will be the only award managed by students, the only award involving young alumni, the only award focusing on students’ comprehensive learning experience, and the only award focusing on progress in teaching;

Be it therefore resolved that the Student Assembly firmly support the creation of a “Students’ List” to identify those professors who receive outstanding scores on course evaluations;

Be it finally resolved that the Student Assembly urge the administration to approve the creation of this award to encourage an increased focus on the quality of undergraduate teaching.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Duch ‘09 Mao Ye grad At-Large Representative Student-Elected Trustee