Proposed Revision to 730.6 - Minimum Qualifications of Faculty; Montana Technical System
Board policy:
The
following guidelines will be utilized to maintain minimum qualifications of
bargaining unit teaching faculty in the Montana Technical System colleges of
technology:
1. All faculty in postsecondary programs and
courses must meet the minimum qualifications established for their
position. Qualifications of newly hired
faculty must be approved at the campus level prior to the beginning of
instruction. The approval process
includes an evaluation and recommendation from the Chief Academic Officer and
approval by the Center director college dean.
2. Technical specialty courses in associate
degree programs should be taught by faculty having both academic preparation
and applicable work experience. At
minimum, all faculty should hold the baccalaureate degree and must meet any
faculty qualifications specified by the Northwest Association of Schools and
Colleges.
In all
cases, teaching faculty members must have technical competence in the fields in
which they teach. In certain exceptional
cases, unique experience and demonstrated competence may substitute for
academic preparation. It is the
responsibility of campus administrators to document and keep on file work
experience, certifications, and other qualifications if these are to substitute
for or supplement formal academic preparation.
3. Technical specialty courses in non-degree
certificate and credit earning adult continuing education courses should be
taught by faculty with college work or specialty training. In all cases, teaching faculty in these
programs and courses must have special competence in the fields in which they
teach. Faculty must meet any minimum
qualifications specified by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. It is the responsibility of campus
administrators to document and keep on file work experience, certifications,
and other qualifications if these are to be substituted for or supplement
formal academic preparation.
4. Faculty teaching in technical programs or
courses that require licensure, teaching toward the attainment of a license, or
which must be accredited by other external agencies, shall hold valid licensure
or certification in the teaching specialty or should have college preparation
appropriate to that licensure. In some
cases, a baccalaureate degree and licensure may be required (example: an instructor in practical nursing must hold
the baccalaureate degree in nursing and be licensed as a Registered Nurse).
5. Faculty who teach those courses which
constitute the required general education core of associate degree programs,
specifically those courses with transfer potential, should hold the master's
degree in an appropriate discipline (example:
English, mathematics, psychology, etc.)
An appropriate master's degree (example: education) with at least eighteen (18) graduate level semester
credits in the appropriate discipline is also acceptable.
6. Faculty who teach related instruction in
non-transfer courses should have fifteen (15) semester credits of academic
preparation in the teaching area.
7. All teaching faculty shall have formal
preparation in instructional methodology.
8. At the time of hire, all technical faculty
holding a baccalaureate or master's degree must have a minimum of two (2) years
of current, relevant work experience appropriate to the program or course.
9. All technical faculty with preparation at
the associate or less than an associate degree must have a minimum of five (5)
years of current, relevant work experience appropriate to the program or
course.
10. All new faculty employees of the Technical
System colleges of
technology hired after July 1, 1993 will be required to meet or
exceed the above criteria.
11. All faculty hired prior to July 1, 1993, who
do not meet the minimum qualifications specified herein shall be required to
develop an individualized plan whereby progress towards meeting the minimum
qualifications will be specified. Such
plan shall be developed by mutual agreement between the individual faculty
member and the Center's college’s academic
officer.
History:
Item 80-7001-R0993, Minimum Qualifications of Faculty, Montana Technical System (NEW), November 11, 1993.