DDA REGULATION
FACULTY CREDENTIALS
SECTION ONE: PURPOSE AND ALIGNMENT OF POLICY
1.01 Purpose
The purpose of this local policy is to establish the standard for justifying and documenting the qualifications of faculty who teach courses for college credit.
1.02 Alignment
SACSCOC Standard 6.2a requires that “for each of its educational programs, the institution justifies and documents the qualifications of its faculty members.” As stated in the Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation:
Determining the acceptability of faculty qualifications requires judicious use of professional judgment, especially when persons do not hold degrees in the teaching discipline or are qualified based on criteria other than their academic credentials. Similarly, persons holding a degree at the same or lower level than the level at which the course is taught require additional qualifications and the application of professional judgment. Additional justification is needed for these cases as compared to cases where the academic credentials are a “perfect match” for the teaching assignments. (Resource Manual for The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, 2024, p. 46)
The following guidelines are provided in the Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation from SACSCOC:
Qualified, effective faculty members are essential to carry out the mission of the institution and to ensure the quality and integrity of its academic programs. The emphasis is on overall qualifications of a faculty member, rather than simply academic credentials. While academic credentials in most cases may well be the standard qualification for faculty members, other types of qualifications may prove to be appropriate. Examples could include appropriately related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications related to the teaching assignment, honors and awards, continuing professional development, relevant peer-reviewed publications, and/or continuous documented excellence in teaching. These types of qualifications are especially important in professional, technical, and technology-dependent fields. (Resource Manual for The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, 2024, p. 45)
SECTION TWO: FACULTY CREDENTIALS
2.01 Requirements for Faculty Credentials
The requirements for faculty credentials vary based on the teaching assignment, as described below.
2.01.1 Qualifications to Teach Undergraduate Courses Intended for Transfer
For courses intended for transfer, Angelina College generally requires that instructors hold a minimum of a master’s degree in the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline.
2.01.2 Qualifications to Teach Undergraduate Courses Not Intended for Transfer
For associate degree courses not intended for transfer, Angelina College requires a bachelor’s degree in the teaching discipline or an associate degree in the teaching discipline with demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline. Such competencies are defined as related certifications or licenses with relevant work experience and are listed on the Faculty Credential Guide posted on the website of the Office of Human Resources.
2.01.3 Workforce Courses Taught in Lower-level Credentials
Some workforce courses not intended for transfer are part of lower-level credentials, such as certificates and Occupational Skills Awards. Instructors who teach such courses must have a certificate in the teaching discipline with relevant work experience or a related certification or license with relevant work experience. These qualifications are listed on the Faculty Credential Guide posted on the website of the Office of Human Resources.
2.02 Review of Faculty Credentials
The initial review of faculty qualifications occurs during the screening process of new applicants. As stated in DC (Regulation), candidates must provide official transcripts, and if appropriate, official documentation of professional and work experience, technical and performance competency, licenses and certifications, and other qualifications as defined in the vacancy announcement. The lead administrator of the relevant school will complete a Summary of Faculty Credentials (Exhibit A) for each prospective instructor and for a current instructor who wishes to teach a course that they were not previously approved to teach. Prospective faculty who do not meet the minimum qualifications as stated in 2.01 must submit documentation of alternative qualifications to the lead administrator of their school using the Summary of Alternative Faculty Credentials (Exhibit B). The Vice President of Academic Affairs will review the credentials of a prospective faculty member and make a final determination regarding the courses that an individual is qualified to teach. Approved faculty credential summaries, along with official transcripts and other supporting documentation, are maintained by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. See also DC (Regulation), DNA (Regulation), and DBA (Regulation).
SECTION THREE: IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW
3.01 Responsible Person
The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for the implementation of this policy and may establish procedures to facilitate its implementation in the academic schools.
3.02 Communication to Constituents
As indicated in DC (Regulation and DNA (Regulation), the credential requirements for individuals seeking to teach courses covered by this policy are communicated through faculty job descriptions. The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for communicating this policy to academic administrators.
3.03 Timeline for Completion of Procedures
The Vice President of Academic Affairs will approve and publish procedures for this policy within 30 days of its adoption and/or amendment by the Board of Trustees.
3.04 Methodology for Monitoring Compliance and Reporting Results
The school deans are responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy and for reporting cases of non-compliance to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
3.05 Schedule for Review
This policy will be reviewed as needed by the lead school administrators and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for reviewing and updating this policy. Policy reviews are made in accordance with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Policy Tracking document.
Document History
Adopted: 1/2025