COMPLIANCE STANDARD CS P20:

The institution employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the institution. When determining acceptable qualifications of its faculty, an institution gives primary consideration to the highest earned degree in the discipline in accord with the guidelines listed. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including, as appropriate, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, or other demonstrated competencies and achievements that contribute to effective teaching and student learning outcomes. For all cases, the institution is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of all its faculty. (See “Credential Guidelines” in Principles for Accreditation.)

The Collin County Community College District's (CCCCD) policy and intent is to employ competent faculty qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the District. The District has completed a comprehensive review of faculty credentials for the target semesters and found that it is in partial compliance with the Credential Guidelines for this compliance standard (Reference 1).

Justification and Explanation for Partial Compliance:

As the District progressed through its comprehensive review of faculty credentials, some faculty members, primarily part-time, were identified with academic preparation that was insufficient based on the District’s policy and hiring guidelines (References 2, 3), which mirror the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). These faculty members had been employed based on documentation of exceptional experience, in lieu of the requisite education. However, after a careful review by academic administrators, it was determined that the District’s standards for “exceptional experience” were being interpreted and applied inconsistently throughout the academic divisions.

Summary reports identifying the faculty members with exceptional experience in lieu of the required degree are provided for each of the three target semesters (Reference 4).

Action Plan for Compliance:

The District will continue its efforts to hire only faculty with the required academic background. Faculty member(s) with skills in workforce areas where advanced degrees are not offered will continue to be considered on a rare exceptional basis, as will faculty member(s) with documented specialized skills and/or certifications, but only after the District has been unsuccessful in identifying individual(s) who hold the required academic degrees, following a good-faith effort to advertise the position(s) within the relevant labor market.

Comprehensive documentation of the exceptional and compelling case for consideration of exemplary experience in lieu of complete education will be reviewed for each individual. This documentation will include a detailed resume, thorough reference checks, relevant transcripts, and a review of the individual’s professional work (e.g. artists, musicians, etc.) Associate faculty members hired based on exceptional experience are approved for only one semester. Re-employment may only be approved upon receipt of new justification that a good faith effort to identify an individual with the required academic background has been unsuccessful.

At the end of each semester, the academic deans will prepare and forward to the appropriate Vice President a report detailing a comparison of student outcomes in classes taught by the faculty member(s) with exceptional experience compared to faculty members with traditional qualifications. Based on the findings of these comparisons, steps will be taken to refine the standards used by the academic deans in considering any exceptions in future semesters.

These processes will improve both accountability and consistency: to limit the numbers of exceptions requested and heighten the standards for considering such requests throughout the District.

Timetable for Compliance:

The District commits to be in compliance with its action plan not later than the beginning of the 2004-2005 academic year.

Supporting Documents: