Faculty Credentials

Per SACSCOC Comprehensive Standard 6.2.a, we must demonstrate that we employ competent faculty by justifying and documenting the qualifications of each person who teaches a credit-bearing course, regardless of the location, delivery method or term. Please see the appropriate section in the FPPM and note the following key points, which apply to both full-time and part-time/adjunct faculty:

• Qualifications must be related to the course content and/or expected learning outcomes. This is more obvious for some academic disciplines and concentrations than for others. For interdisciplinary courses, the qualifications must be relevant to the disciplines that are components of the course.
• Tenure-track faculty and any faculty teaching graduate courses should have an earned doctorate or acceptable terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline.
• Faculty teaching undergraduate courses should have at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline relevant to the course content, preferably at least a master’s degree.
• Other qualifications may also be appropriate to demonstrate competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including related work experience in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, scholarly publications and presentations, and continuous documented excellence in teaching.

The Academic Credentials Guidelines list academic degrees for each discipline that are considered appropriate to meet both SACSCOC and Longwood expectations without needing to provide additional justification beyond the transcript and CV provided at the time of hire. This list was created with input from department chairs. Please notify the Office of Accreditation and Compliance if changes need to be made.

Additional documentation of credentials is required for the following:

• ALL adjunct and part-time faculty. Complete the Adjunct & Part-Time Faculty Certification of Credentials form for any person listed as instructor of record who is not in a full-time teaching position at Longwood. This includes adjunct, AP employees, and retired or emeritus faculty.
• ALL lecturers, clinical educators and visiting faculty. Complete the Lecturer, Clinical Educator & Visiting Faculty Certification of Credentials  form.
• Tenure-track faculty ONLY IF the person does not have one of the terminal degrees listed, the guidelines state that justification is required (usually for interdisciplinary content). Complete the Tenure-Track Faculty Certification of Credentials form.

If you have any questions about faculty credentials or qualifications, please call David Shoenthal, x2193. Call before you bring a candidate for a full-time position to campus or make an offer to an adjunct or part-time instructor. If a current faculty member teaches a course outside of his/her teaching discipline, we must also be able to document the qualifications for that course.

Please submit completed forms before making an offer to a full-time or part-time candidate along with the CV and unofficial transcripts provided by the candidate. Official transcripts must be sent to Academic Affairs as soon as possible after the contract is signed. Note that Academic Affairs reviews faculty credentials before the offer of employment is made; final approval rests with the Provost and VPAA.

Department chairs are responsible for documenting the academic credentials and other qualifications of any person who is listed as the primary instructor for a course in the department’s program areas. When in doubt, call David Shoenthal, x2193.