6.3.1 Certification of Faculty

Policy Tracking	Date
Approved	October 1, 2002
Revised	September 2, 2020
Reviewed

Official transcripts and other necessary documentation must be filed in the personnel file of each faculty member to show evidence of their qualifications and credentials. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools permits, in certain situations, a waiver of traditional credential requirements for instructors (see 6.2.A in the accreditation criteria). Blue Ridge Community College endorses the principle that some instructors, as a result of nontraditional educational or training experiences or as a result of related work experiences, are fully qualified to teach in many areas. The College acknowledges the need in such circumstances to fully document and maintain a record of those competencies. A faculty competency form will be completed for occupational extension instructors, literacy instructors, and others for whom formal credentials are required by accrediting or by common practice. The form is provided for supervisors of such instructors to document those competencies. This form will be completed as soon as possible after hiring such as instructor, and the form along with any attachments will become a part of the instructor’s personnel file maintained in Human Resources.
The official documentation must certify the following credentials:
1. All faculty members teaching credit courses in the following areas: humanities/fine arts; social/behavioral sciences; and natural sciences/mathematics must have completed at least eighteen (18) graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline and hold at least a master’s degree, or hold the minimum of a master’s degree with a major in the teaching discipline.
2. All faculty members teaching credit courses in professional, occupational, and technical areas that are components of associate degree programs designed for college transfer must have at least eighteen (18) graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline and hold at least a master’s degree, or hold the minimum of the master’s degree with a major in the teaching discipline.
3. All faculty members teaching credit courses in professional, occupational, and technical areas that are components of associate degree programs not usually resulting in college transfer must possess appropriate academic preparation coupled with work experience. The appropriate credentials will be determined for each faculty member by the appropriate dean and the Vice President for Instruction. For example, all instructors in the area of Emergency Services Training must be qualified as established by the respective emergency services certifying agency. Emergency services training means training delivered to personnel in law enforcement, fire and rescue services, and emergency medical services agencies.
4. In exceptional cases, outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may be presented in lieu of formal academic preparation in the above areas. Such cases must be justified by the Vice President for Instruction or a designee.