Administrative Regulation Title: Determining Faculty Qualification Guidelines
Regulation Number: 3.2.1a

91黑料 (91黑料), in accordance with revised Assumed Practices adopted by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in June 2024, ensures that all 91黑料 faculty are qualified to teach courses they have been assigned.

 

鈥淔actors that 91黑料 considers as part of these policies and procedures will include, but are not limited to: the achievement of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination thereof.鈥

 

Definitions:
Faculty – Faculty includes full-time, part-time, adjunct, dual credit, temporary, non-tenure-track, and other instructors.

Achievement of Academic Credentials

91黑料 faculty who have achieved academic credentials possess an academic degree 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 possesses the same level of degree. Faculty teaching general education courses or other non-occupational courses must possess a master鈥檚 degree or higher in the discipline or subfield from an accredited institution. If a faculty member holds a master鈥檚 degree or higher in a discipline or subfield other than that in which he or she is teaching, that faculty member has completed a reasonable amount of coursework in the discipline or subfield in which they are teaching, as defined by 91黑料. An approved list of disciplines and subfields for use in determining qualified faculty may be obtained from 91黑料鈥檚 Human Resources Office via the Website.

Progress Toward Academic Credentials

Progress toward academic credentials means demonstrable, current, and consistent progress toward the academic credential(s) deemed relevant by 91黑料 for faculty to be qualified. An 91黑料 faculty who is qualified as a result of progress toward academic credentials will not permanently be qualified on that basis; rather, the faculty will be qualified on another basis.
91黑料 faculty who is qualified based on progress toward academic credentials has access to and engages with resources that 91黑料 provides to support their teaching.

Equivalent Experience

Equivalent experience means experience that is commensurate with achievement of academic credentials such that it qualifies faculty 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.

Other Entities
Other entities mean entities other than the institution to which the institution assigns the responsibility of instruction.
The Following Apply to Equivalent Experience Credentialing

  • For cases in which the degree earned does not qualify exclusively, qualifying coursework will be evaluated by full-time faculty in the corresponding academic discipline, the department chair, and Executive Dean of Academics. The evaluating parties will forward their recommendations to the Vice President for Student and Academic Services for final approval; all qualifying coursework credits must be earned from an accredited institution, and the courses must be passed with a letter grade of 鈥淐鈥 or higher.
  • In the event that there are no full-time faculty members in the corresponding academic discipline to make a determination regarding credentials, the department chair and Executive Dean of Academics will determine suitability of credentials and coursework.

 

References: 91黑料 Board Policy 3.2. 鈥 Appointment of Faculty and Staff

Original Adoption Date:
Revision Date(s): 03/23/2026
Date Reviewed but No Change: