Full-Time Faculty (Core Requirement 6.1 and Standard 6.2.b)
[Full-Time Faculty]
[(Core Requirement [CR]] 6.1 [and Standard] 6.2.b[)]
Guideline
Why a Guideline? This guideline addresses the array of full-time faculty responsibilities.
CR 6.1 The institution employs a sufficient number of full-time faculty members to support the mission and goals of the institution. (Full-time faculty)
Standard 6.2.b [For each of its educational programs, the institution….] Employs a sufficient number of full-time faculty members to ensure curriculum and program quality, integrity, and review. (Program faculty)
Rationale. Sufficiency of faculty resources is necessary to ensure the quality and integrity of an institution’s academic programs to support its mission. Moreover, the mission of the institution will govern the type of faculty employed, including the number, distribution, and expected role of full-time faculty in academic and governance matters. The achievement of the institution’s mission with respect to teaching, research, and service requires a critical mass of full-time, qualified faculty to provide direction and oversight of academic programs. The number of full-time faculty should be sufficient to fulfill basic faculty functions – curriculum design, development, and evaluation; teaching; identification and assessment of appropriate student learning outcomes; student advising; research, scholarship, and creative activity; and institutional and professional service. Consequently, an institution relies on full-time faculty engagement in all aspects of the academic program; its quality and integrity are not driven solely by the number of hours that full-time faculty are teaching.
Distinguishing CR 6.1 and Standard 6.2.b
CR 6.1: As part of its case for compliance, it is advised that an institution (1) define full-time and part-time faculty; and (2) identify the expected role, responsibilities, and functions of full-time faculty, as well as its policies and procedures for addressing any work overloads.
Standard 6.2.b: As part of its case for compliance, it is advised that an institution will (1) define faculty oversight of its academic programs (beyond just broad areas such as social sciences or humanities, or broad degree categories such as Associate in Arts or Bachelor of Science) and academic processes; (2) describe the distribution/disaggregation of full-time and part-time faculty by academic program; (3) describe the responsibilities and functions of full-time faculty charged to support and ensure the quality and integrity of each academic program; and (4) provide persuasive evidence that the number of full-time faculty in each academic program is adequate to fulfill those responsibilities. Institutions committing such evidence to tables should use institutionally-generated tables/charts as appropriate in lieu of those formerly provided by The Commission on Colleges and Universities.