3.7.1
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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 accordance with the guidelines listed below. 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 its faculty. (Qualifications of Faculty)
X Compliance Partial Compliance Non-Compliance
Narrative: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) recruits and employs faculty, both full-time and part-time, in accordance with its mission and institutional criteria. These criteria are based on both SACS guidelines and the following policies and procedures established by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education (SBTCE):
Local policies based on the state-level SBTCE criteria include the following College policies:
OCtech initially ensures competency of its faculty through a carefully constructed recruitment and hiring process and then monitors competency and productivity over time through annual reviews which thoroughly evaluate the instructional and service accomplishments of all faculty.
Faculty members at OCtech either meet the degree credential requirements, are approved by workforce credentials (occupational), or demonstrate competency in the teaching discipline. In instances of workforce credentials or demonstrated competency, OCtech relies on screening by departmental faculty, program coordinators, academic deans, the Dean of Administration, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. In order to verify degree credentials, OCtech requires official transcripts of all degrees earned in the discipline(s) being taught by each faculty member. The standards for teaching credentials at OCtech differ by level of instruction as follows:
College transfer courses ( Type A: Transfer Programs & General Education) : Masters or doctoral degree in the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a concentration (18 graduate semester hours) in the teaching discipline |
General education degree courses ( Type A: Transfer Programs & General Education): Masters or doctoral degree in the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a concentration (18 graduate semester hours) in the teaching discipline |
Developmental studies courses ( Type B : Developmental Education): Masters or doctoral degree in the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a concentration (18 graduate semester hours) in the teaching discipline |
Associate degree courses not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate degree ( Type C): Bachelor’s degree in the teaching discipline, or associate’s degree and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline |
In cases of workforce credentials or demonstrated competency in the teaching discipline, employment must be justified and documented by the originating department for review by the academic deans, the Dean of Administration and the Vice President for Academic Affairs ( OCtech Faculty Qualification Form ). A prospective candidate without the normally accepted credentials as per the standards listed above must always have professional and experiential background to warrant an exception to the appropriate academic credential requirement. In some areas, traditionally credentialed faculty members are especially difficult to obtain, particularly in the disciplines of computer science, information technology, and the allied health professions. In instances when a faculty member is granted exception by way of workforce credentials or demonstrated competency to normally accepted credentials, each academic program ensures that courses assigned to that individual have learning outcomes comparable with courses taught by faculty who possess the standard credentials. Prospective faculty members with degrees earned at institutions outside the United States must have those degrees analyzed by the academic deans, the Dean of Administration, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to ensure that the degrees are equivalent with the preparation provided by regionally accredited institutions in this country.
In addition to addressing credential standards, the academic department also verifies that each prospective faculty member possesses the English oral and written communication skills necessary to be successful as an instructor ( State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education Policy 8-2-109: English Fluency Requirement for Faculty Employment).
All OCtech faculty and their degrees are listed in the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Catalog, 2004 according to degree program responsibilities. The specific courses and corresponding credentials of all faculty teaching at OCtech during Summer Session, 2004; Fall Semester, 2004; and Spring Semester, 2005 are presented in the Roster of Instructional Staff. Official transcripts and vita of all OCtech faculty members are available in the OCtech Office of Human Resources in the Faculty Qualifications Portfolios. The Faculty Qualifications Portfolios of specific faculty members with either workforce credentials or demonstrated competency to normally accepted credentials are included in web links embedded in the Roster of Instructional Staff.
Evidence of Support:
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