Faculty Credentialing Guidelines

From the Principles of Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACS), Commission on Colleges, approved December 2012 (Note: These credential guidelines
replace those in the Criteria for Accreditation, 2010).

The complete text of the Principles of Accreditation can be found here.

Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1 of the Principles of Accreditation reads as follows:
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. Credential Guidelines:

1. Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level: a doctoral
   or master’s degree in the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a concentration
   in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching
   discipline).
2. Faculty teaching associate degree courses designed for transfer to a baccalaureate
   degree: a doctoral or a master’s degree in the teaching discipline or a 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 not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate
   degree: a baccalaureate degree in the teaching discipline, or an associate degree
   and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline.
4. Faculty teaching baccalaureate degree courses: a doctoral or a master’s degree in
   the teaching discipline or a master’s degree with a concentration in the teaching
   discipline (minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline).
5. Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course work: earned doctorate/terminal
   degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline.
6. Graduate teaching assistants: master’s 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.