Policy 4110C

Procedure 4110C

GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING QUALIFIED FACULTY

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum faculty qualifications are established for all credit bearing courses to ensure that students are taught by faculty who are authorities in the subject(s) they teach. These qualifications adhere to the standards established by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Minimum qualifications are based on the following criteria: academic credentials, significant progress toward such credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination thereof. The minimum qualifications will be established by faculty in the appropriate discipline. In single faculty disciplines additional faculty and the school chair will be involved in the establishment of the minimum qualifications 

The minimum qualifications for each course or programmatic area the college offers will be in the Faculty Qualification Guide. This guide will be maintained at the direction of the Chief Academic Officer and updated annually to reflect updates to the course catalog.      

Criteria Definition

1. Academic Credentials

   • Instructors possess an academic degree(s) relevant to what they are teaching and at least one level above the level at which they teach, except in programs for terminal degrees.  
   • In terminal degree programs, an instructor typically possesses the same level of degree.  
   • In the context of general education courses, or other non-occupational courses, achievement of academic credentials typically means that an instructor holds a master’s degree or higher. Generally, this degree is in the discipline or subfield in which the instructor is teaching. If an instructor holds the degree in a discipline or subfield other than that in which they are teaching, the individual has completed a reasonable amount of coursework in the discipline or subfield in which they teach, as defined by the faculty in that discipline.

2. Significant progress toward academic credentials 
   Progress toward academic credentials means demonstrable, current, and consistent progress toward the academic credential(s) deemed relevant by the School Chair (or designee).

3. Equivalent Experience  
   Equivalent experience means experience that is commensurate with achievement of academic credentials such that it qualifies an instructor for the instruction. This could include through a minimum threshold of experience; research and/or scholarship; recognized achievement; and/or other activities and factors. Equivalent experience may differ by discipline or program. Previous years of classroom instruction does not alone constitute equivalent experience.

4. Combination (Academic Credentials & Equivalent Experience) 
   When appropriate faculty may be deemed qualified through a combination of academic credentials and equivalent experience.   

Documentation

All faculty must have the following documents on file to teach:  

1. Official transcripts for all degrees awarded or course work completed, (for international credits or degrees, a transcript audit must be submitted from a recognized transcription service)

2. Copies of appropriate industry standard certification(s)

3. Curriculum Vita or resume.  

In the minimum qualifications outlined above, whenever a qualification includes a requirement that a faculty member has earned a particular degree, the degree or coursework must be from an accredited institution of higher learning. Official transcripts must be provided to the Human Resources department to be included in the personnel file. An accredited institution of higher learning shall mean an institution that is fully accredited by one of the following agencies: 

• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
• Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
• Council on Occupational Education; Distance Education Accrediting Commission
• Higher Learning Commission
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Commission of Higher Education
• New York State Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of Education
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 
• WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges 
• WASC Senior Colleges and University Commission 

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External Reference: Higher Learning Commission

Internal Reference:  Faculty Qualification Guide

Adopted June 23, 2022
Revised February 2024