Faculty Academic and Professional Credentials

1. Introduction and Purpose

Loyalist College is committed to ensuring that its faculty have the appropriate academic and professional credentials required to instruct a course as part of a degree program, which aligns to the standards of the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).

The purpose of this policy is to outline the minimum academic and/or professional credentials required of employees who teach and/or facilitate courses, labs and/or field/clinical placements at Loyalist College.

2. Application

This policy includes all full-time and contract employees teaching courses and/or facilitating labs and/or field or clinical placements at Loyalist College.

3. Definitions

Academic credential: A credential from a Canadian, or an accredited and/or recognized postsecondary institution outside of Canada that is equivalent to a Canadian credential, that indicates that the person has successfully completed a program of study.

Professional credential: A credential from a certifying or regulatory body affirming that the individual has the essential knowledge and skills of a specific professional field required for safe and current practice.

Non-core/breadth course: A course in a program that enables students to explore a range of topics and issues separate from their core program topics.

Core course: A course that is directly linked to the field of study of the student’s program.

4. Policy Statement

The following policy statements only pertain to employees who fall within the scope of this policy.

• 4.1 Academic Credential Requirements for Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Graduate Certificate Programs
  • 4.1.1 Employees teaching in a specific program are normally required to hold an academic credential at least one higher than the credential the students they are teaching will earn upon graduation.
  • 4.1.2 Employees teaching within a specific program may also be required to possess the appropriate qualifications and expertise in the field related to the program, and, where relevant, be eligible to be practitioners in that field.
  • 4.1.3 Individual employment competitions may require credentials at a higher level.
• 4.2 Academic Credential Requirements for Degree Programs
  • 4.2.1 Employees teaching core or non-core/breadth courses in a degree program will hold an advanced academic credential, normally the terminal credential*, or at least one credential higher than a baccalaureate in the field of study, or in a closely related field/discipline.
    • *Note: An earned doctorate is normally the terminal academic credential in all fields or disciplines.
  • 4.2.2 At least 50% of the students’ experience in the professional or main field of study and in the non-core areas is in courses taught by a faculty member holding the terminal academic credential in the field or in a closely related field/discipline.
  • 4.2.3 Employees must engage in a level of scholarship, research, or creative activity sufficient to ensure their currency in the field.
  • 4.2.4 Employees are to be adequately trained for the delivery mode.

5. Verification of Academic Credential

Employees must provide evidence to the College of their credential(s), which will undergo verification. The College welcomes qualified faculty from around the globe. Those candidates with international credentials must provide an independent evaluation (at their own cost) confirming Canadian equivalency of their credentials. Academic credentials must be released directly to Loyalist College by the awarding institution and will be kept on file.

6. Professional Credential Requirements

• 6.1 Professional Credential
  • All employees falling under the scope of this policy, who teach and/or facilitate in fields where a professional credential, registration or licence is normally required, must hold a current professional credential, registration or licence. For example, those teaching nursing courses are required to be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
  • Technicians and/or academic staff acting as research, clinical and/or exhibition supervisors will meet requirements outlined by the regulated profession, including professional certification, registration and/or licence.
• 6.2 Work Experience
  • Faculty teaching courses that are directly related to the workplace are required to have appropriate experience in the field.

7. Disclosing Academic and Professional Credentials

According to PEQAB, Loyalist College must have on file and available for inspection, the Curricula Vitae (CV) of all faculty and prospective faculty teaching a degree program core or non-core course. For each CV there is to be a signed Curriculum Vitae Sharing Consent Form (see Appendix A) that attests to the individuals’ agreement to disclose their CV to PEQAB when required.

8. Related Documents

• Appendix A – Academic Faculty and Professional Staff Teaching Core and Non-core Courses Curriculum Vitae Sharing Consent Form

9. References

• Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board Manual for Ontario Colleges.