The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is one of the major postsecondary institutional accreditors in the United States, currently accrediting degree-granting institutions in 19 states, primarily in the central portion of the country. Because of their reach and influence, their accreditation policies have had a significant impact on postsecondary CTE programs.
This month, HLC implemented an altered Faculty Qualifications Policy that offers colleges a role in determining personalized requirements for faculty credentials and includes new alternative indicators of faculty qualification. This policy change will increase the routes available for dual enrollment educators to meet necessary credentials for employment in HLC-accredited institutions.
HLC’s previous faculty qualifications policy, approved in 2015 and in the process of implementation until this month’s announcement of new rules, held dual enrollment educators to rigid academic standards that did not take into account other qualifying experiences. Under this policy, dual enrollment educators had to possess at least 18 graduate credits in their discipline to meet qualification requirements.
With the approval of the new policy, colleges can now choose to utilize the previous rules or determine their own personalized faculty qualification requirements. Therefore, in addition to academic credentials, colleges could also use equivalent experience as an indicator of faculty qualification. This could include consideration of workforce experience, research, scholarship, recognized achievement, and other factors. Should a college adopt new standards, the HLC requires its equal application to all faculty.
This policy change creates greater inclusion of the experiences and expertise possessed by CTE educators that could benefit student learning. For further information on the new policy, read HLC’s updated guidelines on faculty qualification and dual enrollment.
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