In this episode, Dr. G reflects on one of his most important responsibilities as Academic Dean: evaluating the faculty. Known for saying “grading is the crabgrass in the lawn of teaching,” he didn’t love the task — but he understood how essential it was. And when he stepped into the role of Academic Dean, the weight of evaluating not just assignments but teachers themselves became even more significant. What he realized was simple but profound: students were the only ones who could truly evaluate certain aspects of teaching. They alone knew which professors inspired them, which assignments made sense for a first-time learner, and which classes shaped their desire to return the next year. But students often believed evaluations didn’t matter — so Dr. G set out to change that. What followed was a uniquely Multnomah solution: turning evaluation day into a chapel service. Dr. G challenged students to see their insights as essential to the school’s growth — and the response was overwhelming. Students stayed long after the chapel ended, writing detailed comments that would directly shape faculty development year after year. Through their honesty and engagement, they helped make Multnomah stronger.

In This Video
Why grading and evaluations matter—even when no one enjoys them • The student perspective that faculty can’t see • How Multnomah turned course evaluations into a meaningful community moment • Why students became essential contributors to faculty development • Real ways student feedback shaped the school every year

About This Series
This video is part of a collection celebrating the story, ministry, and legacy of Dr. Garry Friesen (Dr. G), honoring the heritage of Multnomah School of the Bible / Multnomah University and the continuing work God is doing through new ministries around the world.

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If these stories encourage you, feel free to like, subscribe, and share with others who knew and loved Multnomah — and with believers growing in faith in Rwanda and beyond.

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The production of these videos was provided by the Multnomah Family Team, if you would like to help sponsor more videos like this, please contact us here.