3.7.1 The institution employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the institution. When determining acceptable qualifications of its faculty, an institution gives primary consideration to the highest earned degree in the discipline in accordance with the guidelines listed below. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including, as appropriate, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, or other demonstrated competencies and achievements that contribute to effective teaching and student learning outcomes. For all cases, the institution is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of its faculty.

Credential Guidelines:

1. Faculty teaching general education courses at the undergraduate
   level: doctor’s 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).
2. Faculty teaching associate degree courses designed for transfer
   to a baccalaureate degree: doctor’s 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).
3. Faculty teaching associate degree courses not designed for
   transfer to the baccalaureate degree: bachelor’s degree in the
   teaching discipline, or associate’s degree and demonstrated
   competencies in the teaching discipline.
4. Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses: doctor’s or master’s
   degree in the teaching discipline or master’s degree with a concentration
   in the teaching discipline (minimum of 18 graduate
   semester hours in the teaching discipline). At least 25 percent
   of the discipline course hours in each undergraduate major are
   taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree—usually
   the earned doctorate—in the discipline.
5. Faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course
   work: earned doctorate/ terminal degree in the teaching discipline
   or a related discipline.
6. Graduate teaching assistants: master’s in the teaching discipline
   or 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline,
   direct supervision by a faculty member experienced in the
   teaching discipline, regular in-service training, and planned
   and periodic evaluations