Palm Beach State College Board Policy

Title: Criteria for Academic and Professional Preparation for Full and Part-time Faculty

Policy Number: 6Hx-18-5.25

Legal Authority: 1001.64 FS, 1001.65 FS

Date Adopted/Amended: Formerly P151.00; Readopted 2/27/1975; Amended 7/26/1979, 9/15/1982, 6/19/2001, 5/12/2009, 11/10/2020

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The College utilizes the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges standards for teaching credentials. The College follows instructional credential criteria established by the Academic Deans’ Council which can be found in the Academic Affairs Credentialing Manual. All degrees and coursework must be earned from a regionally accredited college or university.

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 accord with the guidelines listed below. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including, as appropriate, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experience in the field, professional licensure and certification, 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 qualification of its entire faculty.

Both full-time and part-time faculty must meet the following criteria for academic and professional preparation.

1. Faculty teaching baccalaureate level 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).

2. Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level: doctorate or master’s degree in the teaching discipline or master’s degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline).

3. Faculty teaching associate degree courses designed for transfer to a baccalaureate degree: doctorate or master’s degree in the teaching discipline or master’s degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline).

4. Faculty teaching associate degree courses not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate degree: a master’s degree in the teaching discipline; a baccalaureate or associate degree and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline is acceptable in limited disciplines.

5. Faculty teaching noncredit occupational and non-degree diploma courses (PSAV, CCE, AVO): college degree and/or specialized training/industry certifications; competence gained through work experience; minimum academic preparation must be at the same level at which the instructor is teaching. (For all courses, coursework within the degree must reflect competencies in the courses to be taught.)

6. Faculty teaching college preparatory courses must have a baccalaureate degree in a discipline related to the teaching assignment.