Certification of Faculty Teaching Qualifications

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Certification of Faculty Teaching Qualifications

• Overview of REVISED
• Guidelines Review Process
• October 1, 2007

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Agenda

• Dispelling common myths
• Clarify roles of Faculty Relations SACS Support
  Offices
• Review SACS requirements re faculty competence
• Review revised UCF Faculty Teaching
  Qualifications Guidelines
• Review processing changes
• Overview of upcoming events
• Questions discussion

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Common Myths

• Myth 1
• The SACS review is over. We shouldnt have to
  worry about documenting faculty teaching
  qualifications for another 10 years!
• Reality
• While it is true that UCF received no follow-up
  requirements following the 2005-06 SACS
  reaffirmation of accreditation process, a
  five-year report is required by the Commission on
  Colleges. Upcoming changes to the report contents
  may require a faculty teaching qualifications
  status report.
• More importantly, the first of the SACS
  Principles of Accreditation is the Principle of
  Integrity. Adherence to this principle means many
  things including
• reporting accurate information to the Commission
  and the public,
• compliance with SACS requirements at all times,
  and
• adhering to the self-monitoring processes we told
  SACS we were committed to.

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Common Myths

• Myth 2
• The SACS (or other) reviewers should be able to
  see that faculty member X is qualified to teach.
  Its obvious!
• Reality
• It is up to the university (specifically, the
  department/unit chair/director) to make a clear
  and compelling case for each teaching assignment
  and to convince the reviewers that the faculty
  member is appropriately qualified for the given
  assignment.

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Common Myths

• Myth 3
• SACS already approved faculty member X to teach.
  I shouldnt have to submit additional
  documentation.
• Reality
• SACS did not approve any of UCFs teaching
  assignments. The SACS faculty teaching
  qualifications review resulted in either a case
  being flagged or not being flagged.
• It is unlikely that the SACS review committees
  reviewed every teaching assignment. It is more
  likely that a spot check was conducted.

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Common Myths

• Myth 4
• Academic Affairs is holding up our hire due to
  the SACS review.
• Reality
• AA (Faculty Relations) does not hold up hires
  for faculty teaching qualifications reviews. The
  expectation is that the chairs/directors make
  appropriate hires and teaching assignments. AA
  (Faculty Relations) reviews those decisions to
  make sure they are sufficiently supported with
  appropriate documentation to justify the case.

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UCF Faculty Teaching Qualifications Oversight
Roles

• Office of Faculty Relations
• Provides Academic Affairs level oversight for
  ongoing compliance with UCF SACS faculty
  teaching qualifications requirements. Responsible
  for the UCF faculty teaching qualifications
  review business process and Academic Affairs
  approval.
• Contacts
• Dr. Lin Huff-Corzine, Assistant Vice President
  for Faculty Relations lcorzine_at_mail.ucf.edu
• Ms. Heidi Watt, Assistant Director, Academic
  Support Services hwatt_at_mail.ucf.edu
• Ms. Lucretia Cooney, Sr. Faculty Relations
  Representative lcooney_at_mail.ucf.edu
• UCF-SACS Support Office
• Provides university level oversight for ongoing
  compliance with ALL SACS Standards, including
  standard 3.7.1 (Faculty Competence). Also
  responsible for development and maintenance of
  the Faculty Qualifications Database (FQDB).
• Contact
• Dr. Diane Chase, Associate Vice President,
  Planning and Evaluation dchase_at_mail.ucf.edu
• Primary faculty teaching qualifications contacts

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SACS Comprehensive Standard3.7.1 (Faculty
Competence)

• 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.

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SACS Guidelines for compliance with Standard 3.7.1

• When an institution defines faculty
  qualifications using faculty credentials,
  institutions should use the following as
  credential guidelines
• Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses doctorate
  or masters degree in the teaching discipline or
  masters degree with a concentration in the
  teaching discipline (minimum of 18 graduate
  semester hours in the teaching discipline).
• Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate
  course work earned doctorate/terminal degree in
  the teaching discipline or a related discipline.
• Graduate teaching assistants masters 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.

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REVISED UCF Faculty Teaching Qualifications
Guidelines

• The complete guidelines are located on the
  Faculty Relations Website at http//www.facultyre
  lations.ucf.edu/WrittenContent/UCFFacQualsGuidelin
  es.pdf.
• Aligned with SACS guidelines
• Specific to UCF
• Clearer than previous guidelines
• Specify documentation requirements

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Teaching Qualifications

• Those academic credentials (degrees and
  coursework) and/or other demonstrated
  competencies and achievements (e.g., scholarship,
  professional experience, certification,
  licensure) that when taken alone or together,
  qualify an individual to teach at the designated
  level in the designated teaching discipline.

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Two ways to qualify for Instructor of Record
(IOR)

• Academic credential(s) (degrees coursework)
  alone
• Qualifications other than academic credentials
  (or combined with credentials) that are
  appropriate for teaching particular courses
• (AKA Other demonstrated competencies and
  achievements or other)
• Does not apply for GTAs.

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(Academic) Credentials

• In the context of UCF faculty teaching
  qualifications requirements, credential(s)
  refers to all earned degrees and other coursework
  successfully completed at an accredited
  institution. This term is also used
  interchangeably with the term academic
  credentials.

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Other (Teaching) Qualifications

• The term other (teaching) qualifications (often
  abbreviated as other) is used interchangeably
  with the expression other demonstrated
  competencies and achievements to refer to
  teaching qualifications other than academic
  credentials (degrees and coursework) that stand
  alone in their ability to qualify a faculty
  member to teach at the designated level within a
  particular discipline or a specific set of
  courses.

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Qualification by Academic Credential(s) Alone

• Baccalaureate level
• Degree alone OR
• Concentration
• Graduate or first professional degree level
• Degree alone
• Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs)
• Degree alone OR
• Concentration
• Note GTAs must meet additional training
  English speaking requirements

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Faculty Teaching Baccalaureate Courses

• Degree alone Masters degree or higher in the
  teaching discipline or a related discipline
• OR
• Concentration
• Masters and 18 hours - Masters degree or higher
  (in any discipline) with a concentration (minimum
  of 18 graduate semester hours) in the teaching
  discipline or related discipline.
• Masters degree equivalency - In the absence of a
  completed masters degree, a concentration may
  also be established via acceptable documentation
  confirming that
• 1.) as part of the individuals doctoral or
  terminal degree program, masters degree
  equivalency was achieved and
• 2.) at least 18 graduate semester hours in the
  teaching discipline or related discipline have
  been successfully completed.

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Masters Degree Equivalency Defined

• Master's degree equivalency - For faculty
  teaching qualifications purposes, master's degree
  equivalency may be established by providing
  sufficient evidence that a faculty member
  enrolled in (or previously enrolled in) a
  doctoral or terminal degree program has, at
  minimum, successfully completed coursework
  equivalent in amount and rigor to that of a
  typical master's degree program in a program that
  requires knowledge of the literature of the
  discipline and ensures ongoing student engagement
  in research and/or appropriate professional
  practice and training experience.

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Defining Related Discipline

• Two types of related disciplines - dependent
  upon the scope of courses on distinct topics the
  faculty member is qualified to teach.
• Broadly Related (Guideline Qualifies for approx.
  five or more courses on distinct topics)
• Selectively Related (Guideline Qualifies for
  approx. four or fewer courses on distinct topics)
• Must identify the courses/topics the person is
  qualified to teach.

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Conditions for Establishing Related Disciplines

• Must be common collegiate practice
• Emerging disciplines a compelling case must be
  made
• Chair/director is responsible for determining
  whether or not a discipline is related and making
  the case when necessary

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Faculty Teaching Graduate Coursework and First
Professional Degree Coursework

• Degree alone Earned doctorate or terminal degree
  in the teaching discipline or a related
  discipline.

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Terminal Degree

• In most fields, a terminal degree is the commonly
  accepted highest degree in the given field of
  study. In such instances, the terminal degree is
  usually considered to be the academic (or
  research) doctorate (e.g., Doctor of Philosophy).
  However, some academic fields have, through
  custom, recognized terminal degrees that are not
  doctorates (e.g., Master of Fine Arts, Master of
  Social Work).

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Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs)

• Degree alone Master's degree or higher in the
  teaching discipline or related discipline
• OR
• Concentration 18 graduate semester hours in the
  teaching discipline
• Additional Requirements for GTA instructors of
  record
• (See Graduate Catalog for additional
  information)
• Accepted enrolled FT in a graduate degree
  program
• Must meet training English speaking
  requirements
• Direct supervision by a faculty member
  experienced in the teaching discipline
• Regular in-service training
• Planned and periodic evaluations

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Qualification by Other Demonstrated
Competencies Achievements

• Qualifications other than academic credentials
  (or combined with credentials) may be appropriate
  for teaching particular courses.
• Considered case-by-case
• Cases should be exceptional
• Evidence provided must be compelling
• Evidence should show substantial significant
  evidence of professional progress as related to
  the faculty members teaching assignment

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Other qualifications may include, as
appropriate

• RELEVANT
• Undergraduate graduate degrees
• Scholarly track record in the teaching discipline
• Contract or grant work
• Work experiences in the field

• Professional licensure and certifications
• Honors awards
• Continuous documented excellence in teaching
• Other demonstrated competencies achievements

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UCF Faculty Teaching Qualifications Review Process
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Certification of Faculty Teaching Qualifications
(AA-20a) Form

• Step-by-step instructions on how to complete the
  AA-20a form are provided in the UCF Faculty
  Teaching Qualifications Compliance and
  Instruction Manual located on the Faculty
  Relations Web site at www.facultyrelations.ucf.edu
  (select Faculty Teaching Qualifications menu).
• Each teaching unit must complete its own AA-20a
  form.
• An AA-20a is required for ALL faculty who will
  serve as an instructor of record (IOR) for a
  credit bearing course at UCF (including thesis
  and dissertation hours, directed research, and
  independent studies), regardless of contract type
  (e.g., full-time, adjunct, volunteer, emeritus)
  in the situations outlined in the next slide.

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When to process unit responsible for processing
an AA-20a form
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Section 1 Employee and Teaching Unit Information
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Section 2 Teaching Discipline(s) Information and
Teaching Qualifications Check

• In addition to the requirements listed here,
  please complete all other appropriate AA-20a
  sections.

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Section 2 Teaching Discipline(s) Information and
Teaching Qualifications Check
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Section 3 Teaching Restrictions
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Section 4 Degree Information
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Section 4 Degree Information
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Section 5 Qualifying Coursework
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Section 5 Qualifying CourseworkCertification of
Masters Level Equivalency
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Things to Remember when completing the AA-20a

• Degree major or program recorded in Section 4
  should match transcript whenever possible.
• Only successfully completed coursework should be
  listed in Section 5. If no credit was earned for
  the course (e.g., received a failing grade) or if
  the individual is currently enrolled in the
  course, the course should not be listed.
• For those persons qualified to teach
  concentration, only successfully completed
  graduate level coursework should be listed in
  Section 5.
• All credit hours must be reported as semester
  hours. The quarter hour to semester hour
  conversion factor is .667. (i.e., Quarter
  Hour(.667) Semester Hour).
• The qualifying coursework does not have to be
  part of a degree program.
• Avoid abbreviating qualifying course titles
  whenever possible.

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AA-20a Required Documentation

• Copies of official transcripts (or U.S.
  equivalency evaluations accompanied by a
  transcript copy for credentials completed at
  non-U.S. institutions) certified by appropriate
  UCF personnel for
• All degrees listed in Section 4
• Must reflect conferred degree(s).
• All qualifying coursework listed in Section 5
• Must reflect successfully completed coursework
• If qualified in whole or in part by other
  qualifications
• Statement of Other Teaching Qualifications
  (AA-20b) form and all related supporting
  documentation

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Official Transcripts

• Official transcripts are required for all
  qualifying degrees coursework. They must
  reflect the successfully completed credential(s),
  which must have been obtained from an institution
  accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by
  the Department of Education (DOE) or the Council
  for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Official Transcript An official transcript
  refers to an original copy of the individual's
  permanent academic record from a given
  institution. An official transcript usually
  includes all courses enrolled in, grades
  received, honors received and degrees conferred
  to the student while enrolled at that
  institution. An official transcript is prepared
  by the issuing institution (usually by the
  Registrar's office) containing a seal and
  signature of an appropriate school official
  (usually the Registrar). A transcript is
  considered official only if it is delivered to
  UCF in an envelope sealed by the issuing
  institution that is subsequently opened by
  appropriate UCF staff and is marked (certified)
  as having been received under these conditions.
  Appropriate certification includes marking the
  transcript as official and the signature of the
  UCF staff member who opened the envelope
  containing the official document.
• Effective Nov. 22, 2007 - certification required

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Certified Official Transcripts
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What if a final transcript is not yet available?

• A letter may temporarily substitute for a final
  official transcript
• ONLY when ALL degree requirements have been
  successfully completed but degree has not yet
  been conferred.
• (Does not apply for credentials earned at
  non-U.S. institution.)
• Letter must be issued by an appropriate official
  at the institution where faculty member is
  enrolled should contain the following
  information
• Confirm successful completion of all degree
  requirements
• Date the degree will be conferred
• Identify degree major/program/specialization
• Note Final official transcript must be obtained
  as soon as it becomes available and forwarded to
  Faculty Relations upon receipt.

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U.S. Equivalency Evaluation(s)

• U.S. equivalency evaluations are required for all
  qualifying credentials obtained at a non-U.S.
  institution, even if the transcript/diploma is in
  English.
• Note Currently UCF accepts foreign credential
  evaluations ONLY from the following two agencies
• World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
• Josef, Silny, Associates, Inc. (JSA)
• Contact information for each is available on the
  Faculty Relations Website at www.facultyrelations.
  ucf.edu.
• Always request a course-by-course evaluation.
• A copy of the foreign credential
  transcript/diploma will suffice for the file
  should be attached to the AA-20a.
• Certify evaluation as official.

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Statement of Other Teaching Qualifications
(AA-20b) Form

• Requires the following
• Statement of Other Qualifications (demonstrated
  competencies achievements)
• Statement of Relationship between Other
  Qualifications Intended Teaching Assignment
• Statements must include dates.
• If qualified by related work experience in the
  field, should also include
• Specific job titles relevant duties.
• Substantial significant evidence of
  professional progress related to teaching
  assignment

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AA-20b Required Documentation

• Current CV or résumé
• Content should provide information relevant to
  the teaching assignment
• Content should provide support to the
  justification provided
• Other documentation as appropriate to support the
  case
• Examples Copies of current licensures, awards,
  certificates, diplomas

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Things to Remember when completing the AA-20b

• It is the chairs/directors responsibility to
  make a clear and compelling case and to provide
  sufficient evidence to make the case.
• The reviewer(s) (internal or external) may be
  unfamiliar with the teaching discipline.
• SO
• Please spell out acronyms and avoid abbreviations
  and arcane terminology whenever possible.
• Explain the relevance and significance of the
  faculty members accomplishments and
  contributions to the teaching discipline.

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Authorized Signatures

• Note It is the colleges/areas responsibility
  to keep Faculty Relations informed and up-to-date
  regarding department/unit and college/area level
  authorized designees.

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Department/Unit Submission Instructions

• Departments/units should always submit AA-20a
  forms and all supporting documentation (including
  AA-20b, if applicable) to their college
  deans/area VPs office.
• This applies to resubmissions as well.
• Note New signatures should be obtained for each
  submission/resubmission.

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College/Area Submission Instructions
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Revised FQ Guidelines Review Process Goes
Livesoftly for initial submissions

• October 1, 2007
• Thats today!

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Effective Dates

• All are strongly encouraged to begin using the
  revised AA-20a form immediately.
• Old AA-20a forms will no longer be accepted for
  initial AA-20a submissions effective November 22,
  2007.
• Official transcripts (and U.S. equivalency
  evaluations) must be certified (marked official
  and signed) by appropriate UCF staff effective
  November 22, 2007. Start practicing now!
• Old AA-20a forms submitted to FR prior to Nov.
  22nd and subsequently returned to the college for
  additional information or clarification may be
  resubmitted to FR on the old AA-20a form until
  December 31, 2007.

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Upcoming Events

• Review revision of department descriptions
• Review of course C.I.P. code assignments
• Exploration of feasibility of automated FQ forms
• FQDB restructure
• Incorporation of faculty teaching qualifications
  into 7-year program review process

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Questions Discussion