Current State and Opportunities for Enhancing Peer Evaluation Practices Across the Pharmacy Academy

Abstract

Objective. To examine and summarize policies and procedures for peer evaluation of teaching/instructional coaching (PET/IC) programs within departments, schools, and colleges of pharmacy and to identify opportunities for improving these based on best practices.

Methods. A survey was sent to all ACPE-accredited pharmacy programs to collect information regarding procedures to support and evaluate PET/IC programs across institutions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the general features of PET/IC programs and inferential statistics were used to make group comparisons based on institutional control (public, private) and institution age (0-10 year, older than 10 years).

Results. Surveys for 91 institutions were completed (response rate = 64.5%). Most institutions (78.4%) reported having a PET/IC program. Most institutions with PET/IC programs reported using a combination of formative and summative evaluations (57.4%). Faculty development (35.8%) and improving teaching (35.8%) were the top purposes for PET/IC programs. Almost half of the PET/IC programs (46.3%) were mandatory for all faculty at the institutions. Most institutions (66.7%) had one standardized instrument used in their PET/IC program. Few institutions (11.9%) reported evaluating or being in the process of evaluating the effectiveness or success of their PET/IC program. Private institutions were more likely to incentivize observers than public institutions (17.1% vs. 0%).

Conclusion. PET/IC programs are needed to assess and provide feedback to instructors about their teaching practices. While most institutions report having a PET/IC program, wide variability exists in how the programs are implemented. Opportunities exist for institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of their program and identify best practices.