Evaluations made useless

NIU’s Student Association Academic Affairs committee should be applauded for its effors in finally publishing a teacher evaluations booklet.

But NIU professors, hundreds of whom did not volunteer their students’ evaluations for publication, should be scolded for making what could have been a breakthrough into more of a broken record. The book is futile – another forward motion pushed back.

The evaluation booklet, which committee adviser Colleen Halliman said should be a “reference tool” for choosing professors, lacks the substance to be of much use.

Because only a disappointing and disturbing 7 percent of NIU instructors participated, it’s nearly impossible to find evaluations of most professors.

Unfortunately, there is little use for an incomplete guide to the professors. Without more faculty participation, the booklet is about as helpful as a map that doesn’t show all the streets in town.

While the SA is happy to have accomplished a long-time goal, it’s doubtful many students will use the booklet in its current state because of the relative worthlessness. Still, it’s not the SA’s fault.

Other universities publish extensive teacher evaluation booklets and NIU should be no exception.

With the SA’s work, a first step toward that has been taken. Regrettably, an apathetic faculty that is worried about having its laundry aired in public only serves to trip them.