Purpose
The Instructional Vice President is responsible for ensuring that all faculty members meet the College’s qualifications as described in Administrative Rule 4.03.005 in order to teach assigned courses in the discipline and that they are hired in a timely manner in accordance with ACC’s policies, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges standards and guidelines and other accreditation requirements.
Guidelines
The Vice President shall accomplish this by:
1. Communicating to Deans and Department Chairs the most current SACS requirements as they may apply to specific programs, and the process for properly documenting the credentials of new faculty;
2. Monitoring this process by reviewing and approving regular Human Resources (HR) reports of new faculty hires that include a list of their academic credentials and classes they are assigned to teach;
3. Providing final approval for faculty hired by justification; and
4. The Instructional Deans are responsible for reviewing credentials to ensure that all faculty meet qualifications in accordance with the SACS, ACC’s Faculty Qualifications Table, and other accreditation requirements.
Instructional Deans will accomplish this by:
1. Communicating to Department Chairs the most current SACS requirements as they may apply to specific program the process for properly documenting the credentials of new faculty;
2. Monitoring this process by reviewing and approving new faculty hires;
3. Confirming that the highest earned degree presented as the credential qualifying the faculty member to teach is from either a regionally accredited institution or from an institution outside the United States that has been shown to be accredited and worthy of acceptance through an evaluation from a reputable recognized credential evaluation agency and that an original or notarized copy of the faculty member’s transcript is on file in HR;
4. Recommending to the Vice President of Instruction approval for faculty hired by justification; and
5. Certifying that faculty are qualified to teach their assigned courses.
The Department Chairs are responsible for reviewing credentials to ensure that all faculty in their disciplines meet qualifications in accordance with SACS, ACC’s Faculty Qualifications Table, and other accreditation requirements.
Department Chairs will accomplish this by:
1. Reviewing transcripts and/or work experience to determine that the new faculty member meets the College’s qualifications to teach assigned courses;
2. Monitoring that adequate documentation of each faculty member’s qualifications is compiled and provided to HR;
3. Ensuring that the highest earned degree presented as the credential qualifying the faculty member to teach is from either a regionally accredited institution or from an institution outside the United States that has been shown to be accredited and worthy of acceptance through an evaluation from a reputable recognized credential evaluation agency and that an original or notarized copy of the faculty member’s transcript is on file in HR;
4. Confirming that each faculty member is qualified to teach courses assigned in their discipline; and
5. Recommending to the Dean approval for faculty hired by justification, when it will serve to further the instructional goals and objectives of the College.
Faculty members are responsible for ensuring that their credentials are current and continue to meet qualifications in accordance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, ACC’s Faculty Qualifications Table, and other accreditation requirements.
Faculty members will accomplish this by:
1. Providing official transcripts and documentation of work experience in accordance with
College timelines;
2. Ensuring that current certifications and transcripts are on file as required by College policy;
3. Securing additional education/workforce experience needed to fully meet the credential guidelines when hired by justification; and
4. Obtaining, for faculty who hold a qualifying degree outside the United States, an original transcript evaluation showing verification of academic preparation from a reputable and providing HR with an original transcript or a notarized copy of their transcript.
The Office of Human Resources will maintain a master credential/SACS file for each faculty member that includes the appropriate credentials and materials that qualify the faculty member to teach. The Office of Human Resources shall accomplish this by:
1. Monitoring and maintaining the files in good order;
2. Ensuring security of files and requiring proper identification from anyone requesting access to official files;
3. Disseminating guidelines for hiring faculty, ensuring that hiring committees/personnel are trained in the hiring process and managing the application and documentation process;
4. Providing a credentials check list, to all persons responsible for hiring faculty, including provisions for hiring by justification;
5. Notifying faculty of expiring licenses or certifications;
6. Working with Deans and Department Chairs to identify problems and secure missing documentation; and
7. Generating the following reports provided to the President, the Vice President of Instruction, the SACS Liaison, Instructional Deans and/or Department Chairs:
a. A report each semester/session which identifies all new faculty, their teaching assignments, and their documented credentials;
b. A Twelfth Class Day Roster each semester that lists all faculty, their assigned courses and their qualifications to teach those courses each semester;
c. An annual report of certifications/licenses; and
d. An annual report of faculty who are hired by justification.