Standard 5: Faculty

5.1 The primary responsibility for the development and improvement of educational programs lies with the faculty. The selection and retention of a qualified faculty must be a major focus for the institution. The professional qualifications of the faculty, employment responsibilities, and the effectiveness of teaching are paramount factors in consideration of an institution for membership. The institution has in place policies governing the role and responsibility of full-time and part-time faculty.

5.2 To ensure full participation by the community, the institution uses an open process in the selection of faculty. Faculty routinely participate in the search process for the selection of new instructional staff. The institution follows applicable employment guidelines which reflect its desire for diversity in academic preparation and expertise in its faculty ranks.

5.3 The institution employs a sufficient number of full-time faculty members to ensure effective teaching, proper advisement of students, adequate review and development of curricula, and involvement in institutional governance and planning.

5.4 The preparation and qualifications of full-time and part-time faculty members must be appropriate to their instructional assignments. Teaching faculty must have competence in the fields in which they teach and must demonstrate success in creating a supportive learning environment for students.

5.5 The minimum academic credential is an academic degree at least one degree level above the level being taught. Moreover, the faculty must hold degrees related to the field(s) in which they are teaching.

5.6 In some fields, however, there may be other qualifications which are equivalent to the minimum academic credential. Qualifications may be measured by such accomplishments as scholarship, advanced study, creative activities, and relevant professional experience, training, and credentials, such as licensure or professional registration. Institutions must provide documentation in those cases where qualifications other than the minimum academic degree are used for faculty appointment.

5.7 While teaching loads and schedules will vary depending on the institution and the field of instruction, faculty should be allowed time for adequate preparation and for continuing professional growth. The student-faculty ratio shall be appropriate to the type of programs offered by the institution. Faculty assignments and workloads are reviewed periodically by appropriate personnel and adjusted as institutional conditions change.

5.8 Since faculty are responsible for the development and improvement of the instructional program, a shared system of governance must exist which includes the participation and representation of the faculty in appropriate matters relating to academic affairs.

5.9 The institution regularly evaluates faculty to ensure that they are effective in carrying out their professional responsibilities. The criteria used in the evaluation process reflect the mission and objectives of the institution. The evaluation procedures used are broad-based and equitable.

5.10 Written policies concerning faculty responsibilities and conditions of employment are clearly stated and understood. These policies allow for due process to deal with grievances brought by the faculty. Faculty are provided reasonable contractual security for appropriate periods of time consistent with the resources of the institution. As part of this reasonable contractual security, a statement of academic freedom for the faculty is adopted by the governing board. Crucial to the integrity of an educational institution, a statement of academic freedom allows faculty and students -- even in institutions with particular philosophical or religious beliefs -- to examine all pertinent data, to question assumptions, and to teach and study the full range of a given discipline.