FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

Alabama A&M University

What is faculty credentialing?

Faculty credentialing is a process that ensures that

faculty are qualified to teach each course that they are

assigned.

Why is faculty credentialing important?

It is important because it ensures that AAMU will

employ qualified faculty and remain compliant with the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Accreditation requirements.

CREDENTIALING

OVERVIEW

A process that ensures

that faculty are qualified

to teach the courses to

which they are assigned.

Credentialing Process

Match

WHAT IS FACULTY

CREDENTIALING?

Courses

taught

by

faculty

Academic

Credentials,

Qualifications,

and

Competencies.

As well as

Other

Qualifications

and

Experience.

WHY IS FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

IMPORTANT?

Compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1

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. 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.

WHY IS FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

IMPORTANT?

Anyone who will have direct instructional activity in a

class must be credentialed, including instructors of

record and their secondary instructors (team teachers).

WHO MUST BE

CREDENTIALED TO

TEACH?

Qualified Faculty

SACS Compliance

Equals

SACS Reaffirmation

ROAD TO REAFFIRMATION

CS 3.7.1 - The institution

employs competent faculty

members qualified to

accomplish the mission and

goals of the institution … For

all cases, the institution is

responsible for justifying and

documenting the qualifications

of its faculty.

SACS Credential Guidelines being used by AAMU

d. Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses:

doctorate or master’s degree in the teaching

discipline or master’s degree with a

concentration in the teaching discipline

(minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in

the teaching discipline).

e. Faculty teaching graduate and post-

baccalaureate course work: earned

doctorate/terminal degree in the teaching

discipline or a related discipline.

f. Graduate teaching assistants: master’s in the

teaching discipline or 18 graduate semester

hours in the teaching discipline, direct

supervision by a faculty member experienced

in the teaching discipline, regular in-service

training, and planned and periodic evaluations.

1. READ THE

PRINCIPLE (CS 3.7.1)

AND GUIDELINES

2. READ THE

DIRECTIONS ON THE

FACULTY CREDENTIALS

FORM

Undergraduate and Graduate

Degrees

Graduate Coursework

Related work experiences in

the field

Professional licensure and certifications

Honors and Awards

Continuous documented excellence in

teaching

Other demonstrated competencies

and achievements

that contribute to effective

teaching and student learning

outcomes.

3. READ THE DETAILS

OF THE TRANSCRIPT,

BIO, OTHER

DOCUMENTATION

Not a 3-page biography/documentary

A list of specific Degrees, Qualifications and/or Experience that qualifies the

faculty member to teach the course

Example: MA, Accounting; 10 years bank accounting experience; 8 years

teaching experience in accounting.

4. MAKE A CASE THAT

THE FACULTY

MEMBER IS

QUALIFIED TO

TEACH THE

ASSIGNED COURSE (S)

Special Certifications or

Licenses

Publications other than Vanity Presses

AwardsHonors

Commendations

Proof of How Training was Achieved

Excellence in Teaching,

especially long-standing

Non-teaching work experience, including length of service,

complexity of work, and how closely the work corresponds

with courses

College degree closely related to teaching field

Number of College credits in teaching field or closely related

area

Reputation, especially at a national level. (i.e. activities in theatrical or musical

performances, productions, exhibits, by holding patents, or by membership on national boards, committees or panels

IF NOT HIGHEST

DEGREE EARNED –

WHAT?

Banker with 20 years experience with only a bachelor’s degree could teach Intro to Banking

Maya Angelou only has a bachelor’s but could

teach poetry and writing

Debbie Allen would likely be qualified to

teach dancing

EXAMPLES OF

QUALIFIED FACULTY BY

“OTHER” (MEANING

“EXCEPTIONAL”)

Course Name Course Description Requirement

CSM 505 Construction Contracts A comprehensive study of the

contracting practices and instruments

used in the construction industry.

Liability and risk factors are included

A Juris Doctorate with construction

industry experience. A Juris Doctorate,

in some cases, may be considered the

terminal degree.

CSM 303 Financial Control of

Construction Organizations

Standard financial practices for

construction operations; direct costs,

overhead costs, burden, capital

investments, cash flow management,

taxes, profit and loss analysis, work-in-

progress

A Master’s degree in Accounting or

Finance with construction industry

experience or a Master’s degree and 18

graduate credit hours in accounting

and/or finance with construction

industry experience is the minimum

degree required. A doctoral degree in

Accounting or Finances with

construction industry experience is

considered the terminal degree.

CSM 257 Codes and Standards A study of building codes required by

local, county and state departments

and OSHA regulations as related to the

construction industry. Construction

safety awareness, procedures and

practices are covered.

A Master’s degree in Architecture,

Public Administration, or Building

Construction with construction

industry experience or Masters degree

in Construction Management with

applicable recognized industry

certification and experience. Doctoral

degrees in Architecture or Construction

Management are considered terminal

degrees.

“MAKING THE CASE”

USING ACADEMIC

CREDENTIALS &

WORK EXPERIENCE

If the University’s policy is an

exception from the SACS

Principle/Guideline, include it

in your documentation (i.e.

MSW teaching Graduate

Practicum Courses because

MSW is widely accepted as

terminal practice degree)

5. DOCUMENT

EXCEPTIONS TO SACS

GUIDELINES

Course Name

• SWK 500 Social Work Practice

Course Description

• The course focuses on the history, foundation domains and the roles of social work practice . . .

Non-SACS Policy

• A Master’s degree in Social Work with at least 5 years teaching or social work experience.

1 2 3 4

Name (F, P) COURSES TAUGHT

Including Term, Course Number &

Title, Credit Hours (D, UN, UT, G)

ACADEMIC DEGREES&

COURSEWORK

Relevant to Courses Taught,

Including Institution & Major

List specific graduate

coursework, if needed

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS &

COMMENTS

Related to Courses Taught,

Joe Alvarez (F) Fall 2009

BUS 1001 Fundamentals of

Accounting, 3 (UN)

BUS 2001 Principles of Accounting I,

3 (UT)

Spring 2010

BUS 1001 Fundamentals of

Accounting, 3 (UN)

BUS 2002 Principles of Accounting

II,

3 (UT)

MBA (General), Good University

included the following coursework:

BUS 516 Cost Accounting (3)

BUS 572 Federal Income Tax (3)

BUS 573 Accounting Information

Systems (3)

Total: 9 Graduate Semester Hrs

BBA (Accounting), Greenhill

University

Current CPA license, NC

1999-2009 Accountant, Big Four

Accounting Inc., Durham, NC

3 years Auditing experience

7 years Income Tax experience

Yolanda Bing (F) Fall 2009

HIS 101, Western Civilization I, 3

(UT)

HIS 110, American Society and

Culture, 3 (UT)

GEO 222, Latin America, 3 (UT)

Spring 2010

HIS 102, Western Civilization II, 3

(UT)

KIN 103, Karate, 1 (UT)

MA (History), Good University

Included the following coursework:

GEO 512, Hist of Cartography

GEO 516, Latin American

Geography

GEO 640, Geo Info Sys

GEO 651, Migration

GEO 670, Europe

GEO 680, 20th Century US

Total: 18 Graduate Semester Hrs

Holds black belt and was first

alternate to US Olympic team in

Karate

END RESULT – SAMPLE SACS ROSTER FORM

Name of Institution: Alabama A&M University

Name of Department:

Academic Term(s) Included: Fall 20xx, Spring 20xx

“SACS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING! WE ARE GOOD FOR 10 MORE YEARS !”

The Five-Year Report follows the SACS Reaffirmation. Updated information for the interim period may be required. This may include an up-to-date Faculty Roster Form. This requires constant compliance with SACS Credentialing Guidelines.

AAMU “MUST” adhere to the Principle of Integrity and remain in compliance with SACS Core Requirements and Comprehensive Standards.

Any Complaints to SACS at any time could require AAMU to submit documented proof of adherence to the accrediting agency’s guidelines, requirements and/or standards.

Myth 1 Actuality

FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

MYTHOLOGY 101

“This Instructor has a Ph.D. and/or tons of experience –It’s Clear that He is Qualified to Teach the Course! Surely the Reviewer will see that!”

AAMU must make a clear and persuasive case for each teaching assignment by showing with appropriate documentation that the faculty member is qualified to teach each course assigned.

Myth 2 Actuality

FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

MYTHOLOGY 101

A Faculty Member has been teaching the same course(s) for 30 years. He must be SACS qualified since his qualifications were approved by SACS during previous Reaffirmation Visits.

When SACS Reviewers look at AAMU’s Faculty Roster Form – they will either note possible non-compliance of a particular case or not note it. Reviewers do not approve faculty to teach a particular course.

Although some SACS Reviewers may closely check every course for every faculty member, it is improbable. Therefore, there is always a chance that any particular faculty member’s credentials may not have been one of the ones examined by the SACS Reviewer during the Reaffirmation process.

Myth 3 Actuality

FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

MYTHOLOGY 101

“I’ve taught at this University for the past 30 years. I don’t need an official transcript. I’ve already submitted three (3). Here’s a copy – use that”

Mistakes Happen! Papers Get Shuffled, People Get Shuffled and Papers Get Lost! Get Over It! An Official Transcript or World Education Evaluation (WES) “MUST” be contained in each faculty member’s credentials file in the Office of Academic Affairs at all times. If during any review of a faculty member’s file it is found that his/her official transcript is not in the file, a request will be made for the faculty member to submit one to ensure that AAMU remains in compliance with SACS Guidelines, Requirements and Standards.

Myth 4 Actuality

FACULTY

CREDENTIALING

MYTHOLOGY 101

3 YEARS BEFORE SACS

REAFFIRMATION VISIT

Office of Academic Affairs assigned a person to be responsible for the organization

and maintenance of all faculty files and portfolios.

This person was responsible for requesting official transcripts and curriculum vitas for

all faculty that were missing these documents in their files.

Academic Affairs then performed an audit of each faculty member’s course assignments and compared each course assignment with

transcript(s).

The audit was then used to flag every course assignment that was not easily related to that

faculty member’s terminal degree.

BASIC STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

USED BY AAMU IN THE SACS

REAFFIRMATION

CREDENTIALING PROCESS

3 YEARS BEFORE SACS

REAFFIRMATION VISIT

All course assignments that were flagged because the terminal degree did not easily

compare with the course assignment were then compared with graduate coursework completed

by the faculty member. If there was a concentration of 18 graduate credit hours in the

course discipline, the faculty member was credentialed to teach the course. If not,

The faculty member’s Master’s degree was compared to the course assignment. If this

degree was in the course discipline or if there was a concentration of 18 graduate credit hours in the course discipline, the faculty member was

credentialed. If not,

Deans and Chairs were required to submit additional justification that would qualify the faculty member to teach the course based on

SACS guidelines.

BASIC STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS USED

BY AAMU IN THE SACS

REAFFIRMATION CREDENTIALING

PROCESS

2 YEARS BEFORE SACS

REAFFIRMATION VISIT

A “Faculty Certification of Credentials Form” was developed. It entailed a faculty credentialing

process that requires the review and approval (from the department up to the Provost’s

Office) of courses for all new hires and for current faculty requesting to teach newly

assigned courses.

Additionally, an audit was done of all faculty credentials that were awarded by a foreign

institution. All faculty that held a degree that qualified them to teach a course had to have that degree evaluated by World Education

Services (WES) (This now applies to new hires as well). WES was selected by the University as

the evaluation agency to use due to it’s being the largest evaluation agency in the U.S. as well as

for its recognition amongst universities, licensing boards, government agencies and

employers.

BASIC STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

USED BY AAMU IN THE SACS

REAFFIRMATION

CREDENTIALING PROCESS

FACULTY REACTION

TO CREDENTIALING

FACULTY REACTION

TO SACS

REAFFIRMATION