Faculty Credentials

Updated: August 31, 2017

Faculty Credentials

To be a member of the faculty or teach courses for college credit at Indiana State University, one must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Possess an academic degree one level above the level which is taught, except in programs for terminal degrees or when equivalent experience is established. In terminal degree programs, faculty members possess the same level of degree.
  2. Possess a graduate degree in the discipline or at least 18 credits of graduate work in the discipline if degree is in a different discipline.
  3. Be a graduate student supervised by Indiana State University faculty.
  4. Have licensures or other credentials that document educational attainment one level beyond the level of teaching.

Exceptions

  1. Have completed all requirements for the terminal degree with the exception of the dissertation (ABD). The faculty must complete the terminal degree as per the faculty contract.
  2. Have experience and expertise that uniquely qualifies the individual in their discipline. In this case, the qualifications must be documented and approved by the appropriate chair and dean. This will generally be satisfied by 5+ years experience or evidence of outstanding performance in the discipline. The individual who meets this exception is able to only teach those courses that are directly related to the advanced experience and/or expertise.

The above policy follows the faculty credential requirements specified by the Higher Learning Commission (see below)

Required Documentation

Newly Hired Faculty

Any offer of employment to a prospective faculty member shall be made contingent on verification of necessary academic credentials. The candidate is responsible for submitting credentials to verify that he or she holds an appropriate degree and any other academic or professional credential (e.g., license or certification) required for the position.

Additionally, the candidate may also be required to verify arequired license or certification by providing copies or complying with the instructions from the hiring department or college. The official transcript must be provided to Academic Affairs before the offer letter will be released to the selected candidate.

Continuing Faculty

Faculty who complete an additional degree that may qualify them to teach in a new discipline or level, must provide an official transcript to verify the awarding of the additional degree.

The Provost or designee will resolve questions or disputes regarding a faculty member’s academic credentials. In the highly unusual circumstance that a faculty member is hired without traditional academic preparation, the Provost’s written approval of the candidate’s alternative qualifications is required.

Higher Learning Commission

Approved by the HCL March 2016, effective September 1, 2017

Faculty Roles and Qualifications

  1. Instructors (excluding for this requirement teaching assistants enrolled in a graduate program and supervised by faculty) possess an academic degree relevant to what they are teaching and at least one level above the level at which they teach, except in programs for terminal degrees or when equivalent experience is established. In terminal degree programs, faculty members possess the same level of degree. When faculty members are employed based on equivalent experience, the institution defines a minimum threshold of experience and an evaluation process that is used in the appointment process.
  2. Faculty teaching general education courses, or other non-occupational courses, hold a master’s degree or higher in the discipline or subfield (or if master’s is in another discipline or subfield, has completed 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline or subfield in which they teach).
  3. Instructors teaching at the doctoral level have a record of recognized scholarship, creative endeavor, or achievement in practice commensurate with doctoral expectations.
  4. When faculty members are employed based on equivalent experience, a defined minimum threshold of experience and an evaluation process is used in the appointment process.
  5. Faculty participate substantially in:
  6. oversight of the curriculum—its development and implementation, academic substance, currency, and relevance for internal and external constituencies;
  7. assurance of consistency in the level and quality of instruction and in the expectations of student performance;
  8. establishment of the academic qualifications for instructional personnel; analysis of data and appropriate action on assessment of student learning and program completion.