Compliance Certification Report
3.7.1 |
3.7 Faculty 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 in accordance with the guidelines listed below. 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: a. Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level: doctor's or master's degree in the teaching discipline or master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). b. Faculty teaching associate degree courses designed for transfer to a baccalaureate degree: doctor's or master's degree in the teaching discipline or master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). c. Faculty teaching associate degree courses not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate degree: bachelor's degree in the teaching discipline, or associate's degree and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline. d. Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses: doctor's or master's degree in the teaching discipline or master's degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline). At least 25 percent of the discipline course hours in each undergraduate major are taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree--usually the earned doctorate--in the discipline. e. Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course work: earned doctorate/ terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. f. 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.
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| The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is in compliance with Principle 3.7.1 because the institution employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish its mission and goals. In assuring competency and qualifications of faculty the institution uses multiple indicators rather than a single determinant. The University gives primary consideration to the highest earned degree in the discipline in accordance with the guidelines listed above. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experiences, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, and other competences and achievements that contribute to effective teaching and student learning outcomes. In all cases, the University justifies and documents the qualifications of its faculty. Evidence of compliance with this principle is derived from several sources, including the mission of UAH; policies and procedures pertaining to the recruitment, selection, appointment, and evaluation of faculty; policies and procedures pertaining to the selection, training, and supervision of graduate teaching assistants; and the documentation of credentials of teaching faculty. The mission of UAH, which states that the University is "dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service" and to maintaining an "academic community of highest quality" serves as the foundation for all of its teaching, research, and service activities which are carried out primarily by its faculty. The University has established policies and procedures that are designed to recruit and retain a high quality faculty with the competence, effectiveness, and capacity to offer excellence in teaching, research, and service. Specifically, the institution has policies and practices governing recruitment, selection, appointment, and evaluation of all faculty; appointment to the Graduate Faculty; and reappointment, promotion, and tenure of its faculty. An important purpose of these policies and practices is to ensure that the faculty has the characteristics and competencies to effectively implement the University's mission. The primary document articulating these policies and practices is the UAH Faculty Handbook. The UAH Faculty Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 2, identifies three general categories of faculty employed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville: (1) tenured and tenure-earning faculty, (2) non-tenure earning faculty, and (3) faculty holding prestigious and named professorships. Tenured and tenure-earning faculty members have responsibilities for all of the three major activities described in the University's mission: teaching, research, and service. There are several types of non-tenure earning faculty appointments, including research faculty, clinical faculty, lecturers, visiting faculty, adjunct faculty, and part-time faculty. The primary responsibility of research faculty is in the University's research initiatives, although some research faculty may also participate in teaching and service activities. The primary responsibility of the other types of non-tenure earning positions is to teach, although in some cases these faculty members may have some service and/or research responsibilities. Faculty holding prestigious and named professorships also may engage in teaching. For each category of faculty, the University has identified the credentials required for appointment. For tenured, tenure-earning, and non-tenure earning faculty, these are described in the UAH Faculty Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 3 and Section 4. Credentials required for appointment to prestigious and named professorships are articulated in the UAH Faculty Handbook, Appendix C. Responsibility for graduate and post-baccalaureate level teaching, including direction of thesis and dissertation work and monitoring graduate students' programs of study is limited to faculty members who are also members of the Graduate Faculty. In addition to meeting the educational and other requirements for the type of faculty appointment they hold, members of the Graduate Faculty typically "hold the highest earned degree, usually the earned doctorate, in the teaching discipline or a related discipline." In exceptional cases, individuals without the terminal degree may be appointed as affiliate members of the Graduate Faculty based on factors such as scholarly or creative activity, or professional experience. (UAH Graduate School Handbook 2003, p. 3) The University has established criteria and procedures for evaluating the performance of its faculty. These criteria are designed to ensure that faculty will continue to provide high quality teaching, research, and service following their initial appointment. Detailed criteria for annual and reappointment evaluations of full-time faculty are presented in the UAH Faculty Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 6 and Section 8. The Credentials Committee of the Graduate Council is responsible for re-evaluation and reappointment of members to the Graduate Faculty (UAH Graduate School Handbook 2003, p. 6). For part-time faculty members who have completed an initial teaching assignment, each subsequent teaching appointment "must be based on careful and thorough examination of all available information pertaining to the individual's performance in previous assignments, including student evaluations" (UAH Faculty Handbook, Chapter 7, Section 2.2.4). The policy statement, Process for Evaluation of Part-Time Faculty, issued by the Provost further describes the part-time faculty evaluation process. Faculty evaluation is also discussed in Standard 3.7.2. The accreditation reviews for programs with specialized accreditations provide additional evidence supporting the competency of the faculty to accomplish the University's mission. Programs in the following colleges have recently had their accreditation reaffirmed: Administrative Science (2003 by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business [AACSB International]), Engineering (2004 by [ABET, Inc.]), and Nursing (1999 by both the Alabama Board of Nursing [ABN] and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education [CCNE]). The Computer Science BS program in the College of Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET through September 30, 2006. The music program in the College of Liberal Arts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music [NASM]; the last review was in 2000. Each College dean is responsible for monitoring faculty and graduate teaching assistant credentials (Guidelines for Monitoring and Justifying Faculty Credentials). Official transcripts showing the highest degree earned in the teaching discipline or related disciplines are maintained in the offices of the deans. Degree credentials of international faculty members are monitored in three interrelated processes. Deans require a transcript or equivalent from each faculty candidate during the interview process. The Office of Research Security and Immigration requires a degree evaluation for individuals with non-immigrant visa applications if the degree was awarded outside the US. The office uses the services of Lisano International for translations and equivalencies if needed. The Department of Human Resources also verifies degree credentials as a condition of employment. The Human Resources evaluation involves verifying that there is a credential evaluation with the Office of Research Security and Immigration. If necessary that office will also check the status of the international educational institution and they may request that the applicant submit a diploma for verification. If there is a need for translation of any of the documents, the Office of Human Resources generally contacts the Department of Foreign Language for assistance. The Human Resource process described here applies to all credentials awarded by non-US institutions. Faculty who do not have a doctorate or master's in the discipline in which they are teaching have been screened by the appropriate departmental or program chair/director and dean to ensure that their preparation and experience are appropriate and justified in relation to their assigned responsibilities. Files maintained in the offices of the deans contain documentation to demonstrate that each faculty member meets the institution's credentials guidelines. Information on credentials of specific faculty members is also available in the Faculty Credentials section of the UAH Online Profile System (UAH OPS). For the 2004-2005 academic year, all full-time faculty members met credentials either through earned degrees or through an assessment of the composite of their education background and professional and academic accomplishments. Of the 274 full-time instructional faculty in Fall Semester 2004, 237 (87 percent) held doctorates, first professional, or other terminal degrees; 36 (13 percent) held master's degrees that were not terminal degrees; and 1 member of the Library professional staff with a lecturer appointment held a baccalaureate degree. Faculty teaching undergraduate general education courses: Tables 3.7.1.a and 3.7.1.b summarize credentials of faculty members teaching general education courses during Fall Semester 2004 and Spring Semester 2005. Deans are responsible for ensuring that faculty members meet credentials requirements and that proper documentation is maintained. Only the Colleges of Administrative Science, Liberal Arts and Science offer general education courses. All faculty members meet the institution's criteria for faculty credentials, the vast majority of them based on their earned degrees. For other faculty this decision is based on factors such as related work experience, successful teaching experience, professional licensure and certifications, and scholarly and creative work. This assessment is made in relation to each course taught. Justification for faculty teaching credentials is provided in the Faculty Credentials section of the UAH OPS. Documents that form the basis for the information on UAH OPS is included in files maintained in offices of the College deans. Table 3.7.1.a Faculty* Credentials of GER Course Sections, Fall Semester 2004 Table 3.7.1.b Faculty* Credentials of GER Course Sections, Spring Semester 2005 Associate degree courses: UAH does not offer associate degree courses. Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses: Tables 3.7.1.c and 3.7.1.d summarize credentials of faculty members teaching baccalaureate courses. The vast majority of all baccalaureate courses are taught by faculty with doctorates or master's degrees in the teaching discipline or master's degrees with a concentration in the discipline. More than 25 percent of courses in all undergraduate majors are taught by faculty members with doctorates. The other faculty members are determined to be qualified based on the other criteria used by the institution to assure qualified faculty. These criteria include holding doctorates and/or master's in closely related disciplines, extensive work experiences, and other professional accomplishments. All faculty teaching baccalaureate level courses have been judged to have credentials that qualify them to teach designated courses. Prior to assigning a faculty member to a course, the department or program chair reviews credentials. Deans of the Colleges have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that faculty members meet credentials requirements and that proper documentation is maintained. Justification for faculty teaching each course is provided in the Faculty Credentials section of the UAH OPS. Documents that form the basis of the information on UAH OPS is included in files maintained in offices of the College deans. Table 3.7.1.c Faculty* Teaching Baccalaureate Courses, Fall Semester 2004 Table 3.7.1.d Faculty* Teaching Baccalaureate Courses, Spring Semester 2005 Approximately 90 percent of the baccalaureate courses offered by the College of Administrative Science during the 2004-2005 academic year were taught by faculty with a doctorate or master's degree in the teaching discipline. In the College of Engineering, approximately 94 percent of the Fall Semester 2004 baccalaureate courses and approximately 98 percent of the Spring Semester 2005 baccalaureate courses were taught by faculty with doctorates in the teaching discipline, or with a master's degree in the teaching discipline or with a concentration in the teaching discipline. Approximately 88 percent of the baccalaureate courses taught by the College of Liberal Arts during the 2004-2005 academic year were taught by faculty with doctorates in the teaching discipline, or with a master's degree in the teaching discipline, or with a concentration in the teaching discipline. In the College of Nursing, 92 percent of the baccalaureate courses were taught by faculty with doctorates in the discipline, or with a master's degree in the discipline, or with a concentration in the discipline. The remaining courses were taught by a physician or by faculty with special expertise in technology included in the courses taught. For baccalaureate courses in the College of Science, approximately 79 percent of the Fall Semester 2004 courses and 89 percent of the Spring Semester 2005 courses were taught by faculty with doctorates in the teaching discipline, or with master's degree in the teaching discipline, or with a concentration in the teaching discipline. In all disciplines, faculty who did not hold one of the aforementioned degrees, had special expertise in course content and had been through a credentials review within the relevant college. Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate courses: The University follows rigorous procedures in making appointments to the Graduate Faculty. Tables 3.7.1.e and 3.7.1.f summarize credentials of faculty members teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate courses in Fall Semester 2004 and Spring Semester 2005. The vast majority of all graduate and post-baccalaureate courses are taught by faculty with an earned doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. The other faculty members are determined to be qualified based on the additional criteria used by the institution to assure qualified faculty. These criteria include other educational background, extensive work experiences, and other professional accomplishments. All faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate level courses have been judged to have credentials that qualify them to teach designated courses. Prior to assigning a faculty member to a course, the department or program chair reviews credentials. In addition, the Credentials Committee of the Graduate Council reviews and must approve credentials of all faculty members teaching graduate courses. Deans of the Colleges have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that faculty members meet credentials requirements and that proper documentation is maintained. Justification for faculty teaching each course is provided in the Faculty Credentials section of the UAH OPS. Verification is provided in files maintained in offices of the College deans. These files include official transcripts and documentation of other professional considerations used in making graduate teaching assignments. Table 3.7.1.e Faculty* Teaching Graduate or Post-Baccalaureate Courses, Fall Semester 2004 Table 3.7.1.f Faculty* Teaching Graduate or Post-Baccalaureate Courses, Spring Semester 2005 In the College of Administrative Science, 79 percent of the faculty teaching graduate or post-baccalaureate courses during Fall Semester 2004 and 77 percent of the faculty teaching graduate or post-baccalaureate courses during Spring Semester 2005 had doctorates/terminal degrees in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. In the College of Engineering, 98 percent of the graduate and post-baccalaureate courses for both Fall Semester 2004 and Spring Semester 2005 were taught by faculty with doctorates/terminal degrees in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. In the College of Liberal Arts, the percent of graduate and post-baccalaureate courses taught by faculty with a doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline was 98 percent during Fall Semester 2004 and 89 percent in Spring Semester 2005. In the College of Nursing, during Fall Semester 2004, 64 percent of the graduate courses were taught by faculty with doctorates in the discipline or a related discipline. In Spring Semester 2005, 87 percent of the courses were taught by faculty with doctorates in the discipline or a related discipline. An additional 27 percent of the Fall Semester 2004 and 13 percent of the Spring Semester 2005 advanced practice courses were taught by faculty with a master's in the discipline and advanced practice certification as nurse practitioners or nurse administrators. In the College of Science, the percent of graduate or post-baccalaureate courses taught by faculty with a doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline was 87 percent for Fall Semester 2004 and 92 percent for Spring Semester 2005. Graduate teaching assistants: All graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who are instructors of record have completed a master's degree in the teaching discipline or a minimum of 18 graduate hours in the discipline. Graduate students without a master's degree or 18 graduate hours in the discipline may serve as GTAs in roles such as laboratory assistants and grading. All GTAs are directly supervised by a faculty member in the discipline, receive regular training, and are evaluated each semester. Transcripts of all GTAs are verified as part of their admission to the Graduate School and are maintained in individual files in the School of Graduate Studies. The UAH Graduate School Handbook 2003, Chapter VII, provides information about GTAs including requirements, a sample letter of appointment, and an agreement form delineating terms of appointment which all GTAs must sign. Tables 3.7.1.g and 3.7.1.h summarize the credentials of graduate teaching assistants for Fall Semester 2004 and Fall Semester 2005 in the Colleges of Engineering, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Science. There were no GTAs in the College of Administrative Science for this period. In all cases, only GTAs with a master's degree or 18 hours in the discipline were assigned as instructors of record. Table 3.7.1.g Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Credentials, Fall Semester 2004 Table 3.7.1.h Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Credentials, Spring Semester 2005 |
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