Section 20 AAC 17.245 - Faculty standards(a)Associate degree programs.(1) At least one-half of those courses that are part of the curriculum of an associate degree program must be taught by faculty members possessing a graduate degree, professional degree such as J.D. or M.D., or baccalaureate degree plus professional certification, approved by the commission, such as CPA or R.N. An exception to the requirement of an advanced degree may be justified for instructors of subjects in areas that are not normally academically credentialed with graduate degrees.(2) An institution that offers an associate degree shall have at least one full-time core faculty responsible for the general education program and one full-time core faculty representing each discipline in which it offers major work, and shall afford the faculty adequate formal safeguards of their academic freedom.(b)Baccalaureate degree program.Except as provided in this subsection, faculty members of a baccalaureate program must hold an advanced degree in that member's discipline. An instructor of a subject area that is not usually academically credentialed with a graduate degree is excused from the advanced degree requirement. Faculty representing major fields of study and their related disciplines must, unless waived by the commission, possess the highest degree in their discipline. An adequate number of qualified and full-time graduate faculty members must be provided representing each subject field and related disciplines in which the institution offers major study, in accordance with the accreditation standards in the Accreditation Handbookof the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 2013 edition, adopted by reference. If that core faculty does not exist, or does not meet the academic credential standards of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the institution must demonstrate to the commission that its students are well-served by a waiver of the requirements of this subsection. The institution must provide the faculty with structured and routine opportunities for development of institutional policies and with safeguards for the faculty's academic freedom.(c)Graduate degree programs.Except as provided in this subsection, each faculty member must hold the highest degree in that member's discipline. An adequate number of qualified and full-time graduate faculty members must be provided in the subject field and related disciplines in accordance with the accreditation standards in the Accreditation Handbook, of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 2013 edition, adopted by reference. If that graduate faculty does not exist, or does not meet the academic credential standards of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the institution must demonstrate to the commission that its students are well-served by a waiver of the requirements of this subsection. The institution must provide the faculty with structured and routine opportunities for development of institutional policies and with safeguards for the faculty's academic freedom.Eff. 4/19/90, Register 114; am 11/5/92, Register 124; am 4/24/98, Register 146; am 8/26/98, Register 147; am 1/30/2003, Register 165; am 12/31/2005, Register 176; am 12/29/2010, Register 196; am 2/22/2015, Register 213, April 2015The Accreditation Handbook, adopted by reference in 20 AAC 17.245, can be obtained by writing to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at: 8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100, Redmond, Washington 98052. An electronic version is available online at http://www.nwccu.org. The commission's telephone number is (425) 558-4224
Authority:AS 14.48.050
AS 14.48.060
AS 14.48.070