FAS Delays Discussion of Q

For the 23rd time in 25 years, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) will skip its January meeting, delaying discussion of a revamped course evaluation system.

The proposed changes to the Q Evaluations would allow students to receive grades earlier and require evaluations for all classes with more than five students, among other modifications.

Discussion of the Q will now be pushed back to the next scheduled meeting on Feb. 12 in light of the decision by the Faculty Council, the 18-member governing body of FAS, to cancel the January meeting.

FAS Dean Michael D. Smith said he was unconcerned with the delay.

“The lack of a Faculty Meeting in January won’t impair our forward progress,” he wrote in an e-mail. “We will be able to get all of our current docket items onto the Feb. agenda.”

Professors have already been given the option of allowing their students to evaluate courses after final exams, according to FAS Registrar Barry S. Kane.

Because the change was not a universal reform, it did not require a vote of the full Faculty, said Michael R. Ragalie ’09, a member of the Committee on Undergraduate Education.

Incoming Undergraduate Council President Matthew L. Sundquist ’09 expressed disappointment that the meeting was pushed back, but said he was pleased that some of the proposed reforms have already been partially implemented.

“We’re very excited to see that students will have the opportunity to evaluate the entire course, and not just before the exam,” he said.

Music professor Thomas F. Kelly, the chair of the Committee on Pedagogical Improvement, said he was optimistic that the reforms would pass before spring evaluations.

“Given that the Q is already underway, there’s plenty of time for the Faculty to figure it all out,” he said.

—Staff writer Maxwell L. Child can be reached at mchild@fas.harvard.edu.