Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

The use of student feedback in performance management

Session

2011-2012

Meeting link

HE conference

Meeting date

8 June 2012

Status

Passed

Motion

HE4

Motion text

Concerns are growing with how the National Student Survey, module evaluations and other forms of student feedback are being used in performance management practices. There are instances where students use anonymous evaluations to air grievances and name staff. Conference notes that to use student evaluations in this way may target women, black, disabled, international and LGBT staff in a discriminatory way. Many problems are outside the remit of the staff, but as they are on the front line, they are targeted by both students and management. Less and less attention is given to annual staff development/appraisals as a forum for staff to air their grievances to management. Staff are asked more frequently what they can do for the institution and not the other way round.

Conference believes that this misuse of student feedback lacks pedagogical or intellectual foundation and undermines teaching standards and staff morale. Conference welcomes the Birmingham University UCU document

Challenges to some assumptions about the proposed Module Evaluation Questionnaire to be introduced at the University of Birmingham', and instructs HEC to adapt this document as appropriate for national circulation and use in local negotiations to seek to avoid the implementation of MEQ-based performance management.

Conference further instructs HEC to:
1. oppose all forms of management performance not agreed through UCU
2. in particular resist performance related pay
3. monitor various techniques being used
4. remind members of the staff development/appraisal system and other forms of getting our voices heard
5. work with the NUS to oppose the invidious use of student feedback
6. investigate the potential discriminatory impacts of the use of student feedback in performance management and campaign for equality

Proposing body

Northumbria University

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Higher education committee (HEC)

Notes