Adjunct Faculty Handbook
Revised January 2022TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCOME
Welcome to North Central Michigan College! I am very pleased that you have joined our instructional team. North Central is committed to delivering exceptional higher education to our students, and we need you to help us fulfill that promise. We value your expertise as an adjunct faculty member, as well as your skills in the classroom. Our students expect a great deal from faculty, and it is my hope that you will provide a challenging and stimulating experience for those you teach (and mentor). For some students, you may be the only contact these learners have with a representative of the college. I trust that you will value your unique position at North Central.
I invite you to become an active member of this learning community. Please do participate in our varied campus activities, as you area able. Best wishes for a successful and productive experience!
David Roland Finley, Ph.D.
President
FOREWORD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Philip Millard, Chair
Dave Kring, Vice Chair
John Fought, Treasurer
Irma Noël , Secretary
Melissa Keiswetter, Trustee
James Shirilla, M.D., Trustee
Dan Rasmussen, Trustee
PRESIDENT'S CABINET
David Roland Finley, Ph.D. President
Renee DeYoung, Vice President of Student Affairs
Carol Laenen, Vice President of Marketing & Strategy
Chelsea Platte, Vice President of Advancement
Stephen Strom PhD., Vice President of Academic Affairs
Tom Zeidel, Vice President of Finance and Facilities
Lynn Eckerle, Director of Human Resources
Lea Dietzel, Secretary to the President
VISION
MISSION
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
The College does not employ any permanent adjunct instructors. In the scheduling of both fulltime and part-time/adjunct faculty for North Central courses, the College reviews a variety of factors including, but not limited to, full-time faculty load requirements, matching skills with course openings, location of courses, etc. The administration reserves the right to select and schedule both full-time and part-time faculty as course needs dictate. Adjunct faculty are hired to teach on a semester by semester basis as the College’s needs dictate. Being hired to teach in a single semester does not obligate the College nor the Adjunct faculty member to future teaching assignments.
ADJUNCT FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
See a full job description in appendix B.
ADJUNCT FACULTY CREDITIALS
See appendix F for a complete description of required credentials.
EMPLOYMENT RECORDS
As a condition of employment, all adjunct faculty are required to have on file with EduStaff an application form, criminal background check, a resume, official transcripts of all post-secondary education and copies of licenses and/or certificates. Adjunct faculty must also complete a W-4 form, an I-9 form, and submit them to EduStaff.
PAYMENT OF WAGES
Pay for adjunct faculty is based on contact hours taught. Adjunct faculty will be paid one check every two weeks per the regular employee pay period of the College.
Usually there will be six or seven paychecks beginning early in the semester. You will be notified by email when the first check will be issued.
Pay rates for adjunct faculty are based on a scaled increment for highest earned degree. Official transcripts must be on file with the College to verify degree status otherwise faculty will be paid at the rate established for the baccalaureate.
CAP ON HOURS PER SEMESTER
Adjunct faculty are approved to teach up to 12 credit hours maximum per semester (Fall, Winter, and Summer). To comply with the Affordable Health Care Act, the IRS has determined that for every 1 credit hour, the instructor will spend 2.25 hours in preparation. The college is limited to no more than 28 hours per adjunct faculty member per semester. The Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success may grant exceptions for special circumstances.
EMAIL AT NORTH CENTRAL
North Central Michigan College maintains its own email servers. Please check your ncmich.edu email on a regular basis.The email system is used to communicate with you about courses we would like you to teach, about textbook orders and issues with students. Other information about happenings at North Central are sent out via email such as professional development opportunities, meeting requests, and special events on campus or at one of our off-campus sites. Please do not use a personal email address.
TUITION WAIVER
All adjunct faculty are eligible for a tuition waiver of up to four (4) credit hours during the semester they are teaching or one of the next two terms. If an adjunct teaches during the fall semester, the tuition wavier may be used that semester, or during the following winter or summer session.
Maximum number of credits is four (4), regardless of the number of classes taught. If an adjunct teaches two ( 2) classes in the same semester, only four (4) credits would be waived. Credits are not bankable from one semester to another. The tuition wavier may be used by the adjunct faculty or a spouse or dependent children.
In order to use the tuition wavier the adjunct faculty must first complete the Adjunct Faculty Tuition Wavier form found on the Portal under My North Central, Faculty Tools. This must be done before registering for any classes. Send the completed form to the Director of Adjunct Faculty for signature. Once approved and signed the Director will forward the form to the Business office at North Central.
Failure to send the completed Adjunct Faculty Tuition Wavier form to the Business Office before registering for classes, may result in the student being dropped for non-payment.
MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT
Adjunct faculty are not reimbursed for mileage.
HOLIDAYS
Classes will not be held on the following days: Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday following Thanksgiving, Good Friday, Spring Break Week, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Please note that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the College will close at 5 p.m.
STUDENT EVALUATION OF FACULTY
All faculty are evaluated by students once each semester. Evaluations will be available for students to fill out through the Learning Management System during the 12thweek. At the end of the semester, faculty will be given access to the survey information. Student feedback can be useful in identifying strengths and weaknesses of the course and of teaching.
SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION OF INSTRUCTION
Your Dean or the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success may attend sessions of your class for purposes of assistance and evaluation.
Adjunct faculty are encouraged to contact full-time faculty for information regarding course objectives, materials, standards or any other issues related to the course. From time to time your Dean may designate a full-time faculty member to attend sessions of your class for purposes of assistance and evaluation.
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES
ADJUNCT FACULTY OFFICE SPACE
In Petoskey we have a number of offices dedicated to Adjunct use. Please see the Associate Dean of Adjunct Faculty for the most current list of available offices.
Please post your office hours on the door, as the office will be shared with other adjuncts.
All adjunct offices on the Petoskey campus use the same key. Keys are available from the main administration office.
In Cheboygan and Gaylord, both sites have one open office that can be used by adjunct instructors.
COPY MACHINES
Copy machines are located in the main administration office, in room 145, and also in the Health Education & Science Center building. A color copy machine is located in the main administration office.
Copy machines in Petoskey require a special code for each area of instruction:
- Liberal Arts = 740
- Business and Manufacturing = 640
- Nursing and Allied Health = 410
Copy machines in Gaylord and Cheboygan are located in the front offices:
- Gaylord = 3775
- Cheboygan = 0322
Please be aware of copyright laws and that each person is solely responsible for any infractions.
KEYS
Keys to buildings and classrooms are issued by the Administration Office. All keys must be returned at the end of each semester.
MAILBOXES
Mailboxes are provided for adjunct faculty teaching on-campus during the current semester. They are located in the Administration Office. Adjuncts teaching off-campus will have information mailed or e-mailed to them.
STUDENT AND COMMUNITY PORTAL
It is essential that all faculty members use the college’s Student and Community Portal. This portal is the central access point for faculty members for all of the college’s electronic resources including but not limited to:
• Learning Management System (LMS).
• College’s help desk.
• Outlook webmail, receiving and replying to all communications from the college via email, (announcements, requests, assistance).
• Access the Internet when on campus in our classrooms, labs, or library.
• Class rosters.
• Posting final grades for students.
When you complete the hiring process, you are also registered for the portal.
TEXTBOOKS
Adjunct faculty are given the ability to determine the text book to be used for their sections. This will be coordinated through the college’s bookstore with directions on how to adopt the selected edition.
LIBRARY and ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGIES
Many instructional and technology services are provided through North Central Michigan College’s and Academic & Administrative Technologies division, including registration for Internet accounts, registration for wireless Internet access, lap top check out, digital audio and video recording (“podcasts”) and production, satellite down-linking, videoconferencing, digital and “traditional” library services, and for access to NCMC’s Learning Management System server, the College’s online electronic learning management system.
LIBRARY SERVICES
North Central Michigan College’s attractive, and comfortable library houses over 35,000 volumes to support a wide range of academic disciplines. In addition, the library subscribes to over 300 print periodicals, and provides students and staff 24 hour access to tens of thousands of full-text online periodical databases and electronic books. Instructors are encouraged to use the large videotape and DVD library in their classrooms; materials may also be placed on reserve. Forty computers are available for student and faculty use over the campus high speed network. Lap top carts are available for check out to be used during class instruction.
Personalized library instruction for your class is available by appointment for day and evening classes, and students may also make individual research appointments with the librarian. Full-time faculty and Adjunct instructors are eligible for library cards and are encouraged to request library materials to support students’ research needs. Find more information under “Resources for Faculty” on the library home page at http://library.ncmich.edu. Please contact us with any questions you may have by email (library@ncmich.edu), or by calling (231) 348-6617, or toll-free at (866)-900-6235.
SMART CLASSROOMS
Smart Classrooms have a LCD data projector, large screen, and stereo speakers permanently mounted in the room, and have an integrated computer multi-media station, and provide high speed Internet access.
Technology use directions can be found in each classroom. Faculty may request training on use and operations of the Smart Classrooms by contacting the IT helpdesk at (231)-348-6617.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)
All students and faculty have access to the college’s Learning Management System (LMS) online content server. North central’s current LMS platform is Brightspace. On Brightspace, you can offer your students one-stop access to all documents (including syllabi and handouts), web links, podcasts (audio and video content), and other class content in your course. All of NCMC’s online courses use (LMS), as well as most of the College’s traditionally-taught classes. An orientation on how to use Brightspace will be provided.
At a minimum all adjunct instructors are required to use the LMS to post the course syllabus and to post grades during the semester.
LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES (LSS)
Learning Support Services (LSS) provides accommodations to students with special needs, tutoring, and test proctoring free of charge. An assortment of study guides, math tutorials and a math lab with walk-in tutoring are also available. A Computer Lab is available for quiet study, and class assignments.
Also provided by LSS are Disability Services for students with documented disabilities. These accommodations may range from longer test-taking times, to more conducive physical facilities in the classroom. Students need to initiate this process by contacting the Director of LSS (231) 348-6617. As an adjunct faculty member, you will receive a notification from LSS describing reasonable accommodations that the student may require. You will then work with the director to provide the necessary accommodations. It is important that you direct any students requesting accommodations to LSS. You are not to make arrangements for accommodations without the express written approval from the Director of LSS.
LSS, in conjunction with the Women’s Resource Center, provides services to occupationally enrolled students, either in a degree or certificate program at NCMC, who are in one or more of the following categories: (1) have a hidden or obvious disability; (2) is economically disadvantaged (receives Pell Grant); (3) has limited English proficiency; (4) is preparing for a career non-traditional for his/her gender; (5) in a single parent (including single pregnant women) or (6) is a displaced homemaker. If a student is uncertain whether he/she qualifies for any of these services, he/she should be referred to LSS.
ACADEMIC TESTING GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY
Test proctoring in Learning Support Services (LSS) is for make-up testing and for students testing with accommodations. Please help us to ensure that the resources of LSS are used wisely to benefit students by following these guidelines:
- Each test must be accompanied by a completed Exam Coversheet – exams submitted without completed coversheets will be returned to the instructor.
- Make sure that all directions for the exam are complete. It would be inappropriate for LSS to try to interpret or assume directions beyond what is stated.
- Completed exams must be picked up and signed out by faculty. To protect the integrity of the testing process, LSS will notreturn exams via students.
- Tests must be taken between Monday and Friday during regular hours. No weekend testing is available.
- Please remind students of LSS hours and photo ID requirements.
- All online exams require an appointment made by calling at (231)-348-6693.
- Testing through LSS is designed for make-up exams or students with accommodations.
- If proctoring is requested for entire classes, LSS may be able to proctor in your classroom depending upon staff availability.
When campus closes due to bad weather, all exams scheduled that day will automatically be rescheduled to the next business day the LSS is open.
Our off campus sites offer test proctoring service during set dates of the semester. Those dates will be sent out electronically to all instructors once the semester begins.
PROGRESS ALERT NOTIFICATION (PAN)
Progress Alert Notification is aimed to increase the success of at-risk and struggling students by connecting them with services or interventions early in the semester when they could have some positive effect on the student’s course success. The Progress Alert Notification electronic form is on the My North Central Portal under quick links.
Between weeks 3 and 5 in the semester (2 and 3 in summer), you, the instructor, identify students in your courses who you believe are struggling or who exhibit signs of at-risk behaviors. These include:
- Poor attendance
- Missing/incomplete assignments
- Poor grades
- Classroom behavior/attitude
- Poor Preparation/participation
- Lack of Study skills
The instructor fills out a PAN form for each student whom they think could benefit from a success intervention. The form can be found on the Portal. This is received by Learning Support Services, and then the student is contacted to create a success plan with an advisor. This plan could include visiting the instructor, counseling/advising, tutoring, workshops, course referral, skill building, and will hopefully lead to the conquering of personal barriers for each student.
PAN programs were developed as retention tools to improve student persistence and success rates. Faculty awareness of potential problems constitutes the backbone of this program and is the key to its success. This system has been a proven method at many colleges, and one we hope will increase the success rates for our students as well.
To submit a PAN alert: Log into the NCMC portal, click on “my north central”, click on “forms”, select Progress Alert Notification.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
CLASS RECORDS
You must distribute the course syllabus to your students, also posting this on our Learning Management System, Brightspace. A model syllabus can be seen in Appendix A of this handbook. To assure continuity of course material and transferability of credit to other institutions, your syllabus must follow the master syllabus for that course.
Be sure to follow the provisions set forth in your course syllabus. This allows your Dean or Associate Dean to support you in the event of a student complaint.
A copy of your class roster is available online on the portal by clicking on My North Central. Click on faculty tools tab and your courses should be listed. Click on the down arrow next to the class and select class roster.
The last day students may open enroll in classes is the end of the first week of each semester. After these dates you should review your class roster to note any discrepancies (e.g., a student attending class who is not on the roster or a student on the roster who is not attending class). Report any discrepancies to the Registrar. Submit final grades per instructions from the Registrar.
FINAL GRADES
Final grade instructions will be sent out by the Registrar. All final grades are to be submitted online per the instructions by noon on the first Tuesday following the end of the semester.
GRADING AND STATUS SYSTEMS
The course work of each student is rated as follows:
Grades Honor Points Per Credit
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D- 0.67
E 0.00
P* Passing (Credit Only)
Status Marks (No Honor Points):
I Incomplete
W Withdraw
AU Audit
NG No Grade Submitted by Instructor
GRADE CHANGE FORM
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
STUDENT MISCONDUCT
CANCELLATION OF CLASSES
Cancellation of on-campus classesdue to severe weather or other conditions will be announced by the college through area radio and TV stations. Day class cancellation will normally be announced by 6:30 a.m. Evening class cancellation will normally be announced by 5 p.m. If day classes are cancelled, classes are cancelled for both day and evening, and support service offices are closed, as well.
Cancellation of off-campus classesdue to severe weather will be regulated by the specific public school system hosting the college courses. For example, if Gaylord Public Schools are closed, NCMC classes held in Gaylord are also cancelled. You should be aware of the status of the school system where your course is held and be aware of media announcements covering updates on school cancellations.
In the event a high school or other facility is closed due to student illness, College courses will still be held, as planned. Any exceptions to this will be communicated with faculty, staff, and students as soon as possible. If the College decides to close due to student illness, faculty, staff, and students will be notified using all available methods, including Gmail, Brightspace, and the NCMC website.
Students and others can check for announcements of class status by calling (231) 348-6600 or looking online for class cancellations at www.ncmich.eduor by checking course announcements in Brightspace. Faculty and students who have signed up for “My Alerts” will also be notified by email, text, Twitter and Facebook.
In the event you have an emergency arise and unable to meet your class, please contact Yolonda Barrette at ybarrette@ncmich.edu and Amy Wicker at awicker1@ncmich.eduin Administration so that the cancellation can be posted and students notified.
In the event of excessive absenteeism (i.e., more than one class) faculty are expected to make arrangements with their Dean/Associate Dean on how to cover their class.
CANCELLATIONS THAT OCCUR THE LAST WEEK OF CLASSES
FIELD TRIP POLICY
PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS
FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
COLLEGE POLICIES & PROCEDURES
SPRING BREAK POLICY
Spring Break will coincide with the Spring Break of the institution hosting the off-campus classes. For example, North Central classes offered in Gaylord will recognize the Spring Break week of Gaylord Area Schools.
North Central students taking classes at more than one North Central location may find their classes observing different Spring Break periods. In these cases, students are responsible for making individual arrangements with their instructors. Faculty are encouraged to make reasonable accommodations for students missing class because of conflicting Spring Break periods. However, faculty are not expected to provide special instruction for students absent for this reason. Responsibility for getting material missed under these circumstances rests with the students.
POLICY ON SMOKING, EATING AND DRINKING
North Central is Tobacco-Free. In an effort to maintain a healthy work and learning environment for all students, employees and visitors, the college will prohibit the use of all tobacco products by employees, students, and visitors on the Petoskey campus, except inside individual automobiles.
The prohibition will apply to all buildings, and facilities, and all outdoor locations owned or controlled by the college. For purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any tobacco product that is smoked, chewed, or consumed in any other fashion. Also included in this policy are electronic, nicotine-containing devices commonly referred to as “e-cigarettes.”
Products that are part of a smoking-cessation program, including patches or gum containing nicotine, are not banned by this policy.
Off-Campus faculty should comply with the smoking policies of the host institution.
Eating and drinking are prohibited in all computer labs. Snack areas are maintained for use prior to class or during breaks.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
In the event of an emergency call 911. Please see red binders in every classroom on and off campus titled “Emergency Procedures”. Note: If you use a college telephone on campus, simply dial 911 (no other numbers). In the event of a medical emergency, make the individual(s) as comfortable as possible until assistance arrives.
INCIDENT REPORT
Anytime an incident occurs in the classroom or at the facility in which you are teaching, which involves a medical, security or safety concern, a Behavior Incident Report should be completed. The form may be found on-line on the portal in your My North Central, click on the tab Forms.
FIRE EVACUATION POLICY
MAINTENANCE
Damaged college property should be reported to maintenance at (231)-348-6384 or by filling a ticket in the Portal System.
Your cooperation in keeping classrooms clean is appreciated. It is requested that rooms be left as found, i.e lights turned off, white boards wiped down, and electronic equipment turned off.
If you are encounter a technology issue while teaching, please contact IT HELP DESK at (231)-348-6617.
THE SYLLABUS
WRITING A SUCCESSFUL SYLLABUS
The Syllabus
Checklist for Writing a Successful Syllabus
The following checklist can help you develop your syllabus. Most North Central courses have a master course syllabus. Please contact your Associate Dean if you do not have a copy of the master course syllabus for your course.
_______Course number, section, title, meeting days and time, room, and building.
_______Your name, title, ncmich telephone number and ext, ncmich email.
_______ Your office hours or a time when students can meet with you.
_______Course Description (as listed in Master Course Syllabus).
_______Required purchases texts and supplies.
_______Prerequisites (As listed in Master Course Syllabus).
_______Course outcomes or objectives (As listed in Master Course Syllabus).
_______Schedule of assignments; readings, exams, papers, and other required learning assessment activities.
_______Grading standards and criteria (Students should know what elements of the class will determine their final grade and what grading scale you will use in assigning the final grades.)
_______Course policies regarding, attendance, make-ups, late assignments, tests or exams, extra credit, extensions, illnesses, cheating, and plagiarism, Grades including P/F, I, and W grades.
_______Course Calendar (indicate tentative, subject to change)
_______Supplementary material to help students succeed in the course, studying, note taking, additional readings or resources.
______Include Accommodations Statement:
Disability Information Reasonable accommodations can be provided for students with documented disabilities. Please contact Learning Support Services to arrange these: SCRC 533, (231)-348-6817 or (231)-348-6687, or lss@ncmich.edu.
______ Include the College’s statement on Academic Dishonesty.
Academic Dishonesty, misconduct, cheating or plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty including acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials. Included are those students who aid and abet, as well as those who attempt such behavior. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use whether by paraphrase or direct quotation, of published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear attribution. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Incidents of academic dishonesty shall be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in Academic Dishonesty as found in the student handbook. Any act of academic dishonesty in this course will result in a failure of the assignment and possible failure of the course.
_______ Post a copy of the syllabus on Blackboard.
APPENDIX A
MODEL SYLLABUS
Student Responsibilities
Biology Mini-Projects
During the semester, each student will complete three small assignments that relate to the topics that we are covering in class. A rubric will be supplied for each assignment. Each deadline will be posted at least two weeks before the project is due. Late projects will loose 10% points per day. The projects will be evaluated on their organization, neatness and completeness.
Participation Points
Students can expect all of these points if they attend class regularly, arrive on time for lecture and lab, actively take part in all of the class activities, come to class prepared, take all exams on time, follow directions, maintain a positive attitude, keep cell phones and other electronic devices turned off during lecture and lab, 35 and behave in a helpful, responsible and appropriate manner.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty, misconduct, cheating or plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty including acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials. Included are those students who aid and abet, as well as those who attempt such behavior. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use whether by paraphrase or direct quotation, of published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear attribution. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Incidents of academic dishonesty shall be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in Academic Dishonesty as found in the student handbook. Any act of academic dishonesty in this course will result in an E or 0 points for the assignment and possible failure of the course.
Disability Statement
Reasonable accommodations can be provided for students with documented disabilities. Please contact Learning Support Services for assistance: (231) 348-6817 or lss@ncmich.edu.
Need Help?
I hope that you will not be afraid to ask for help. See me during my office hours, e-mail or call. If I don't answer the phone, leave a message. Free tutors are available through Learning Support Services.
APPENDIX B
NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE POSITION DESCRIPTION
3. Create a syllabus for each course taught in accordance with master syllabi and will make it available to all students during the first week of classes. Adjunct Faculty will also send an electronic copy of the course syllabus to the Assoc. Dean of Adjunct Faculty and your Dean within the first week of each semester you teach.
4. Follow textbook ordering procedure and will respond promptly to requests for textbook information.
5. Participates in Assessment Activities.
6. Submits final course grades by noon on the Tuesday following the end of the semester.
7. Use the ncmich.edu email account to communicate with students, faculty and staff and will check it frequently and respond in a timely fashion to all emails.
8. Arrange with students to be available outside the classroom.
9. Maintain course records as appropriate to normal college procedures and for course assessment.
10. Communicate with students both verbally and in writing according to FERPA guidelines.
11. Participate in professional development opportunities on campus when available.
12. Follows all college procedures and policies.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. See Faculty Qualification Guidelines (Appendix E) for more detail.
2. Minimum two years teaching in a post-secondary environment preferred.
3. Knowledge of adult learning theory and techniques
4. Demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the mission of a comprehensive community college.
5. Skills necessary to identify and use relevant technology.
6. Excellent written/verbal skills.
APPENDIX C
NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE COPYRIGHT FAIR USE POLICY
APPENDIX D
ADJUNCT FACULTY QUALIFICATIONS
At North Central, all prospective faculty are divided into two broad categories that reflect their primary teaching role: general education / transfer courses or occupational courses. The requirements for faculty qualifications differ depending on the type of North Central course the faculty member will teach.
Broadly speaking, whenever a prospective faculty member wishes to offer a North Central course, s/he should convey that interest first to their high school administration.
The high school administration will in turn contact the Director of Student Outreach and Engagement at North Central with the request and the prospective faculty member’s credentials; North Central administration will review the request and the credentials and communicate back to the high school administration either the approval or denial of the request or the need for further documentation.
If North Central asks for further documentation regarding a candidate’s request, it may be more expeditious if the faculty member works directly with the North Central Dean who is examining the documentation; once the Dean has made a decision regarding the faculty’s qualifications, s/he will convey that information back to North Central’s Director of Student Outreach and Engagement, who will in turn communicate back to the high school administration and the prospective faculty member.
For general education and transfer courses (English, Communications, Humanities, Languages other than English, Math, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences):
Route 1: the faculty member is expected to hold a master’s degree in the discipline or relevant sub-field as applicable; or
Route 2: if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should hold at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline in which he or she teaches; or
Route 3: if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should present a combination of graduate credits in the relevant discipline according to this schedule (candidate must present a minimum of nine (9) credits in the discipline or subfield):
Graduate Credits in Relevant Discipline |
Minimum Relevant Professional Experience (Full-Time) |
9 |
2 years |
12 |
1.5 years |
15 |
1 year |
AND
--Tested experience of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) consistent with the federal Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule (GS) classification system at the GS 7 level for that discipline. Per HLC guidelines, time in service alone is not sufficient to receive credit toward this category of “tested” experience.
Candidates for teaching general education / transfer courses using Routes 1 and 2 should experience little difficulty in demonstrating their qualifications; candidates seeking qualification using Route 3, should provide their most current, updated and complete credentials and experience, and to review the GS classification series for that area, where such series exist, and specifically the requirements expected at the GS-7 level.
For general education and transfer areas that do not have a corresponding GS-7 level position through OPM, or whose professional experiences may not entirely align with the GS position description (e.g., language specialist series) the general process for vetting on the basis of tested experience is the same, with an initial meeting between the candidate and Associate Dean to review credentials, and to consider any request by the candidate for consideration of tested experience.
However, where no GS-07 level position in the academic discipline exists (e.g., language instruction or translation in American Sign Language or Anishinaaabemowin; chaplaincy or other professional work in Religion; journalistic or other work consonant with Communications), demonstration of appropriate experience at the corresponding conversion rate, with clearly defined means of tested experience shall be recognized.
The candidate shall furnish documentation to the Dean that substantiates both time in service and KSA equivalency. At that time, the Dean will complete a written confirmation of the applicable academic credits, appropriate conversion rate and documentation of professional experience, as well as evidence of the test(s) used to account for the substitution of experience.
While the above forms of tested experience may be considered for areas that do not have equivalent GS-7 positions, they also are subject to the condition that academic credentials remain the primarymeans of vetting; as such, candidates are still expected to furnish evidence of nine graduate credits in the relevant discipline, interdisciplinary field, or sub-field, as appropriate.
The Dean shall determine if the documentation meets the standards expected under the GS equivalency system. Should the prospective faculty member or the high school administration wish to appeal the decision regarding these qualifications, either may do so directly to North Central’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.
For Occupational Courses (Accounting, Business, Computer Information Systems, Computer-Numeric-Controlled Operator, Criminal Justice, Economics, Information Technology, Management, Marketing, Office Administrative Services):
Route 1: the faculty member is expected to hold a master’s degree in the discipline or relevant sub-field as applicable; or
Route 2: if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should hold at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline in which he or she teaches; or
Route 3: if the candidate does not hold a master’s degree, he or she will be expected to present documentation of the following combination of academic credentials and tested experience and state or industry licensure, certifications, or badges as applicable to the specific discipline being requested.
Minimum Academic Credential |
And Equivalent Tested Experience |
And State or Industry Licensure, Certifications, Badges as applicable |
|
|
e.g. CPA, MOS Expert, MCOLES, EMS, NIMS, RN, CMA, CST, CPT, CNA |
BA/BS with concentration in teaching field |
2 years (4000 hours) work experience in field |
|
BA/BS with minor in teaching field |
4 years (8000 hours) work experience in field |
|
AA/AS/AAS in teaching field |
8 years (16000 hours) work experience in field |
|
As with candidates for teaching general education / transfer courses, candidates in occupational areas using Routes 1 and 2 should experience little difficulty in demonstrating their qualifications; candidates seeking qualification using Route 3, should provide their most current, updated and complete credentials and experience.
Should the prospective faculty member or the high school administration wish to appeal the decision regarding these qualifications, either may do so directly to North Central’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.
In conclusion, North Central welcomes the opportunity to bring a college-level experience to area high school students through our dual credit programs and is deeply committed to working closely with high school administration and faculty to ensure proper faculty qualification and a process of working toward such qualification that will benefit students, high schools, and North Central alike.
*At its November 2015 meeting, the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees resolved to provide an opportunity for member institutions with dual credit programs to apply for extensions related to compliance of faculty qualifications in these programs. North Central will certainly apply for such an extension, but the maximum length of time possible for such an extension will be five years. It is expected that all North Central faculty, including those in dual credit programs, will ultimately be qualified identically.
Documentation for general education / transfer faculty qualification may include, but is not limited to:
- Supervisory evaluations specifying nature of work completed consonant with specific knowledge, skills, attributes (KSAs) required
- Contracts and client evaluations specifying specific duties and scope of work completed, for self-employed candidates
- Letter certifying qualification from the appropriate tribal executive body
- Letter from a recognized body or organization certifying qualification in a language for which graduate academic study is not readily available (e.g., American Sign Language)
- Recognized, independent systems of testing, including the American Council of Teaching
Foreign Language/Language Testing International (ACTFL/LTI)
- For those desiring experience equivalency in languages that are tested by ACTFL/LTI:
- All four dimensions of communication must be tested: reading, writing, speaking (interview), and listening
- The candidate must receive Superior ratings or higher in each of the areas for them to count toward tested experience equivalency.
- For those desiring experience equivalency in languages that are tested by ACTFL/LTI:
- Other external certifications or credentials from recognized bodies, as applicable.
- Juried or otherwise competitively ranked and awarded pieces of work appropriate to the field
- Peer-reviewed publication(s) in appropriate venues relevant to the field
- Academic transcript data indicating performance in the relevant discipline to be taught
- Other documents or experience, as deemed appropriate by the Associate Dean, and, if necessary, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.
Documentation for occupational faculty qualifications may include, but is not limited to:
Program |
Industry Recognized Certifications |
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Accounting |
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Legal Assistant |
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Hospitality |
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) |
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Criminal Justice |
Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES): requirements are (1) minimum selection standards include satisfactory completion of a basic police academy or recognition of prior training and experience, and (2) employment with a law enforcement agency as a law enforcement officer. |
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CIS |
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CNA |
NCLEX, Train the Trainer, Clinical Skills Observer (Prometric) |
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CNC/Manufacturing |
National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) |
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EMS |
Michigan Instructor Coordinator (I/C) License appropriate to level of instruction |
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IT |
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Mangement |
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Medical Office Assistant |
CMA (AAMA), NRCMA & CPT, Current Procedural Technology |
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Nursing |
National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), RN-BC |
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Office Administration |
MOS Expert or Master certifications |
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Phlebotomy |
CPT, NCCT (Phlebotomy tech in surgery) & ASCP |
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Surgical Technologist |
CST, TS-C, CORST & NCCT |