The Extent to Which Heads of Academic Departments Practice Evaluating the Performance of Faculty Members at Lahj University in Light of Yemeni University Regulations

Abstract

This study aims to identify the extent to which heads of academic departments practice the evaluation of faculty members' performance at Lahj University in light of Yemeni university regulations, and to reveal differences in the sample members' estimates according to the variables of college, job, academic rank, and years of experience. The study adopted the descriptive approach in its survey method and used two questionnaires prepared by the researchers. The first was directed to heads of academic departments, and the second to deans, vice deans, and faculty members. Each consisted of (36) items distributed across four domains. The second questionnaire was applied to a stratified random sample of (166) individuals comprising deans of colleges, vice deans, and faculty members at Lahj University. The results showed that the reality of heads of academic departments' practice of evaluating faculty members' performance, in terms of (clarity of tasks, institutional agreement, granted authorities, and obstacles facing them), from the viewpoint of the heads of departments themselves, was high, with an overall mean of (3.39). The extent of heads of academic departments' practice of evaluating faculty members' performance, in terms of (evaluating teaching performance, evaluating scientific research, evaluating community and university service, and evaluating personal qualities and professional relationships), was moderate from the viewpoint of deans, vice deans, and faculty members, with an overall mean of (2.75). The results also showed no statistically significant differences attributable to the variables of job, academic rank, and years of experience, while statistically significant differences attributable to the college variable appeared. In light of these results, the study recommended developing mechanisms for evaluating faculty members' performance in a manner consistent with Yemeni university regulations, preparing procedural guides and unified criteria for evaluation, and enhancing support for scientific research and community service in a way that contributes to improving the quality of academic performance.