Revision Responsibility: Vice President of Academic Affairs

Responsible Executive Office: Vice President of Academic Affairs

Purpose: To establish requirements and expectations for part-time faculty.

Policy:

I. Part-time faculty are employed by the college on a temporary part-time basis to carry out instructional functions.

II. All part-time faculty will meet the same requirements for academic and professional preparation as full-time faculty.

III. Overall responsibility for part-time faculty orientation, supervision, and evaluation rests with the Dean, School of Nursing and the Faculty Coordinator of Foundational Liberal Arts.

IV. Supervision of part-time faculty is the responsibility of the Dean and/or Coordinator who supervise the program area in which the part-time faculty member is teaching.

V. Part-time faculty positions do not include employment benefits or assurance of subsequent employment.

VI. Platt College defines faculty qualifications using faculty credentials.  The following credential guidelines are used:

a. Faculty teaching foundational  liberal arts and science (general education) courses at the undergraduate level: doctorate 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. Nursing Faculty teaching in the Bachelor of Science (BSN) Program: should hold at a minimum a Master's of Science in Nursing degree and must have a minimum of four years of related practical work experience in the subject area(s) taught.

c. Clinical nursing faculty (baccalaureate level): should hold at a minimum a Master's of Science in Nursing degree and must have a minimum of four years of related practical work experience in the subject area(s) taught.

Additional expectations of full and part-time faculty members:

• Faculty members must be certified or licensed where required by law.
• Faculty members must be able to teach in a manner that permits announced educational objectives to be achieved.  All faculty must be able to demonstrate a command of theory and practice, contemporary knowledge, and continuing study in their field. 
• Faculty members must be versed in instructional methods and teaching skills.  The faculty member should have received training in instructional methods and teaching skills or who are experienced members.  All faculty must have training before he/she assumes primary instructional responsibility in any classroom, curriculum, or laboratory.  The faculty must engage in ongoing development of teaching skills as part of its plan for faculty improvement. 
• Faculty should be able to design curricula, to develop and implement effective pedagogy, and to appreciate the breadth of knowledge vital in quality undergraduate education.
• Knowledge of conducting research, advising students, participating in co-curricular activities, and contributing to shared governance.
• A faculty member’s ongoing professional development in the field in expected.
• Qualified faculty are able to engage professionally with colleagues in determining the stated learning objectives for graduates of a specific program
• Faculty are able to determine the usefulness of curricula to students who live and work in a diverse society.
• Faculty should demonstrate evidence of student learning and teaching effectiveness that demonstrates it is in accordance with the College’s statement of mission.

VII. Applicants may be required to demonstrate competency in teaching as a part of the selection process.

Procedures:

I. In preparation for each quarter, the Dean and/or Coordinator or their designees will determine the need for part-time faculty and recommend employment after verifying the part-time faculty to be hired have the appropriate credentials and proficiencies.

II. The Dean and/or Coordinator or their designees will schedule an orientation to college policies, procedures and expectations for each new part-time faculty member during hiring orientation.

III. Each part-time faculty member will be evaluated by students quarterly and by the program Dean and/or Coordinator or his/her designee annually.  All new part-time faculty members should be evaluated before the end of his/her first quarter of employment.       

Created: July 30, 2009, Revised: January 17, 2011 to reflect revised organizational chart, January 17, 2013 to reflect change from minimum of BSN to MSN for clinical faculty according to ACEN standards of accreditation.