Policies & Procedures Manual

383

Policy No: 741.2

Policy Contact: Vice President for Instruction

Policy Title: ACADEMIC PREPARATION OF THE FACULTY

All teaching faculty at East Central Community College must have appropriate credentials in the fields in which they teach. These credentials must show evidence that the teaching faculty have the appropriate academic and/or experience for preparation for the College to accomplish its purpose. In all academic areas, faculty members must have completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline, and hold at least a master’s degree from an accredited institution, or hold the minimum of a master’s degree with a major in the teaching discipline. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a nationally recognized evaluation service. In exceptional cases, outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may be presented in lieu of formal academic preparation. In specialized, professional, technical, or career fields, faculty members must possess appropriate academic preparation coupled with work experience as a practitioner in the occupational field. The minimum academic preparation must be at the same level at which the faculty member is teaching. The Qualifications Manual for Post-secondary Career-Technical Personnel published by the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) contains minimum educational and work experience requirements for administrators and instructors. Postsecondary institutions may require additional qualifications in order to meet state and national accreditation standards related to specific programs as well as to meet local needs. These qualifications are designed to ensure that each individual employed to teach and support postsecondary career and technical education in Mississippi meets general education competency, occupational competency, and instructional competency. Documentation of academic preparation for all full-time and part-time professional personnel, such as official transcripts and, if appropriate for demonstrating competence, official documentation of professional and work experience, technical and performance competency, records of publications, certifications and other qualifications are maintained in the office of the Vice President for Instruction.

(Revised 6/8/10; Revised 6/10/14; Reviewed 4/12/16)