Rewarding teaching excellence in higher education: an analysis of an incentive program at a tier I research institute and a prescription for future teaching incentive programs
by Michael D. Johnson; Arunachalam Narayanan; William J. Sawaya III
International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management (IJPSPM), Vol. 7, No. 3, 2021

Abstract: There is significant interest in promoting teaching effectiveness at colleges and universities. At Texas A&M University, the chancellor offered a voluntary cash-based teaching incentive program to faculty members teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. This program rewarded top teaching performers each semester based on student feedback of instructional quality. The program awarded cash rewards to 57 faculty members (out of 731 applicants) in the colleges of business and engineering over five semesters. This study examines the effectiveness of the award program on teaching and the effects of course and instructor characteristics. The instructor evaluation data for two years before the award was instituted, during its duration, and for a year after the award program ended was compiled and analysed. Results indicate that already high performing junior and non-tenure track faculty applied for and won the teaching awards. Also, the award program did not significantly change the teaching performance or grading outcome in the classroom. In spite of consistent participation from a wide range of faculty members, the program ended after five semesters. Insights from this incentive program inform a discussion of key attributes that should be part of a successful teaching incentive program in higher education.

Online publication date: Wed, 28-Apr-2021

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management (IJPSPM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com