Introduction
Learning and student success are at the core of the college’s mission: In keeping with our values and goals, Santa Fe College, a comprehensive public institution of higher education serving North Central Florida and beyond, adds value to the lives of our students and enriches our community through excellence in teaching and learning, innovative educational programs and student services, and community leadership and service.
The college facilitates student access, learning and success within the context of clearly defined outcomes and a culture of inquiry, evidence, and innovation. To assure the college’s continued status as a dynamic learning community requires constantly improving institutional effectiveness. The college’s faculty workforce is the primary means through which its mission, values, and strategic plan are translated into action and reality. Clearly, both full-time and part-time faculty are focal points of all activities in these areas. Therefore, among the college’s most important initiatives and strategic decisions are the continual development of its current faculty and selection of new faculty.
This manual provides academic administrators with standards, guidelines, and a process that facilitates equitable and consistent decisions about credentialing full-time and part-time faculty.
The manual is divided into two sections. The first section, The Credentialing Process, includes the SF credential guidelines for faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate level, associate degree courses designed for transfer to a baccalaureate degree, associate degree courses not designed for transfer to the baccalaureate degree, baccalaureate courses, and college preparatory and certificate programs. It also presents the role and responsibilities of the Faculty Credentialing Oversight Committee (FCOC), the process for evaluating transcripts and other credentials, the electronic Employee Credentialing Request form, and requirements for alternative credentialing and international credentials.
The second section of the manual encompasses Credentialing Requirements for Each Discipline or Program. All applicants for teaching positions must qualify for faculty appointments based on their academic credentials, training, and/or experience as outlined in this section. Each course in every discipline requires relevant experience and expertise to support and elicit the associated student learning outcomes. Therefore, this section presents the minimum requirements and acceptable qualifying fields (directly or closely related fields) to teach every credit-bearing course the college offers.
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for accreditation compliance and therefore is the final decision authority for the college in this area. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs may appoint a designee to provide oversight of the credentialing process and serve as a liaison between the FCOC and Provost’s office.
