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Academic and Professional Preparation Requirements for Faculty- Overview
Old Dominion University's academic and professional preparation requirements for full-time and
part-time faculty conform to the criteria established by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools.
It is expected that the University will employ faculty members whose highest earned degree presented as
the credential qualifying the faculty member to teach at the University is from a regionally accredited
university. If the University employs a faculty member whose highest earned degree is from a
non-regionally accredited university within the United States or an institution outside the United
States, the University must show evidence that the faculty member has the appropriate academic
preparation.
The University must ensure that each faculty member employed is proficient in both oral and written
communication in the language in which the assigned courses will be taught.
SACSOC defines instructor of record as the qualified individual responsible for teaching the course and
who has overall responsibility for the development/implementation of the syllabus, the achievement of
student learning outcomes included as part of the syllabus, and for issuing grades.
- Guidelines
- Undergraduate: All full-time and part-time faculty teaching courses leading to a
baccalaureate degree, other than physical activities courses, must hold a master's degree with at
least 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline. Graduate teaching assistants teaching
undergraduate courses as instructors of record must have completed a master's degree in the
teaching discipline or have completed 18 graduate semester hours in the discipline, have received
regular in-service training and periodic evaluations, and have directed supervision by faculty
experienced in the teaching area.
If these requirements are not met, then exceptional professional experience and/or substantial
evidence of teaching excellence may be presented in lieu of some formal academic credentials for
undergraduate teaching in accordance with the SACSCOC guidelines for exceptional credentialing. Such
cases must be justified by the hiring supervisor on an individual basis to the dean or designee and
provost or designee. Interdisciplinary undergraduate courses may be taught by faculty qualified in a
related discipline. - Graduate: Graduate certification is required for teaching graduate-level courses.
Requirements for graduate certification levels and corresponding responsibilities are found in the
policy on Certification of Faculty for Graduate Instruction.
All full-time and part-time faculty teaching courses at the graduate level must hold the terminal
degree as defined by the field, usually the earned doctorate, in the teaching discipline or a
related discipline and hold graduate certification from the college of appointment. In some
instances, the master's degree in the discipline may be the terminal degree. In others, a
master's degree in the discipline coupled with a doctorate in a related discipline is
considered appropriate. Such instances must be justified on an individual basis. If these requirements are not met, then individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly or
creative activity or professional experience, but who may not possess the required academic
credentials may be approved as graduate faculty in accordance with the SACSCOC guidelines for
exceptional credentialing. Evidence of competence or academic credentials other than the terminal
degree in the discipline for graduate faculty must be presented as justification for employment
and/or graduate certification. Such exceptions must be approved by the graduate program director,
the dean or designee, and the provost or designee.
- Credentials
It is the responsibility of the University to keep on file, for all full-time faculty, part-time
faculty, and graduate teaching assistants, documentation of academic preparation, such as official
transcripts, and, if appropriate, official documentation of professional or work experience, technical
and performance competency, records of publications, certifications, and other qualifications. All
terminal degrees awarded in the United States must have been conferred by regionally accredited colleges
or universities. Transcripts of degrees or other credentials held by faculty from higher education institutions
outside the United States must be evaluated and verified by an external credentialing agency at the
time of hiring. The international credentialing process shall be managed by the Office of the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. For all faculty teaching graduate courses, a completed current Certification for Graduate Instruction
form must be placed in the faculty's file. For faculty who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly
or creative activity, or professional experience, but who may not possess the required academic
credentials, a completed Exceptional Certification of Faculty for Graduate Instruction form must be
signed and approved by the graduate program director, the dean or designee, and the provost or designee
and placed in the faculty's file. For adjunct faculty appointments, copies of the documentation and a memorandum from the department
chair justifying any exception to the criteria for academic and professional preparation must accompany
the Adjunct Faculty Approval/Employment Authorization form when submitted to the Office of the Provost
and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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