Red Rocks Community College Procedure


Category: College Personnel
Title: Faculty Qualifications
Number: RRPR 3-29 Approved:  January 15, 1991
Effective: January 15, 1991

The quality of the College’s instructional programs and student services and the accreditation of the College require fully qualified faculty members. Qualified full-time faculty and part-time instructors teaching in academic programs will have a master’s degree from an accredited institution. Successful completion of 18 graduate level hours will be required in the specific discipline to be taught. Qualified full-time faculty and part-time instructors teaching in occupational programs will minimally meet the Colorado Vocational Credential Initial Credentialing Qualifications as established by the State Board for Community College and Occupational Education (SBCCOE); general faculty members will have a master’s degree from an accredited institution. Successful completion of 18 graduate level hours will be required in the area of specialization.

Professional/technical instructional staff will be required to satisfy qualifications appropriate for their responsibilities.

Occasionally, part-time instructors who do not meet the minimum qualifications may be considered to teach at the College. Hiring under these circumstances will be allowed at the discretion of a vice president of instruction.

Continued employment by the College is contingent upon meeting the required provisions of this procedure.

FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA

Faculty Who Have Met Minimum Qualifications

• So that the professional instructional and general faculty maintain the highest standards of qualifications, within each five-year period of a faculty member’s employment, the instructor must complete one or more of the following as approved in advance by the appropriate vice president of instruction. The five-year rotation began with the 1981 contract for academic and general faculty employed during or prior to 1981. For academic and general faculty employed after 1981, the five-year rotation begins with the date of the employee’s initial contract. For occupational faculty, the five-year rotation will correspond to dates for expiration of occupational instructors’ SBCCOE vocational credential.

 • Credit granted for successful completion of six (6) graduate level semester hours in areas appropriate to the faculty member’s professional development.

• Credit granted for successful completion of nine (9) undergraduate level semester hours in areas appropriate to the faculty member’s professional development.

• Other professional growth experiences appropriate to the faculty member’s professional development (i.e., workshops, seminars, work experience appropriate to the faculty member’s program area, etc.). Clock hour/credit hour equivalency will be used to determine credit hours; with experiences where hour/credit hour equivalency cannot be applied, equivalency will be determined in consultation with the appropriate vice president of instruction. SBCCOE guidelines will be used for occupational instructors to determine credit hour equivalency of noncredit seminars or work experiences.

• A combination of the above.

Faculty Who Have Not Met Minimum Qualifications

• Academic and general faculty with less than a master’s degree will be required to have a written, approved professional growth plan that will culminate with an earned master’s degree within three (3) years from the date of initial employment. Professional growth plans will be approved by the appropriate vice president of instruction not later than one (1) month after the effective date of employment for new personnel. Faculty progress on the professional growth plan will be reviewed each semester and documented by transcripts.

• Occupational faculty holding a conditional vocational credential will be required to have a written, approved professional growth plan. Professional growth plans will be approved by the appropriate vice president of instruction not later than one (1) month after the effective date of employment for new personnel. Faculty progress on the professional growth plan will be reviewed each semester and documented by transcripts of other documentation as specified by Colorado credentialing guidelines.

• Continued employment by the College is contingent upon meeting the required provisions of this procedure.

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