Procedure:     Instructor Qualifications: Credit
Department:    Academic and Student Affairs
Contact:          Sonya Christian, (541) 463-5120          christians@lanecc.edu 

Lower Division Collegiate Instructors  Lane Community College standards for teachers of lower division collegiate courses include a masters degree in a subject area closely related to that in which the instructor will be teaching; however, in subject areas in which individuals have demonstrated their competencies and served in professional fields and in cases in which documentation to support the individual's proficiency and high level of competency can be assembled, the master's degree requirement may be waived at the discretion of the college president.

Instructors of lower division collegiate courses may qualify in the following ways.

1. Primary teaching field: A master's degree in the field of primary teaching assignment, or a master's degree in another discipline and at least 30 quarter hours (20 semester hours) of graduate credit in academic courses in each primary teaching field. Verification of the degree is required.

2. Secondary teaching field: A minimum of 24 quarter hours (16 semester hours) of graduate credit in academic courses in each secondary field. Verification of the credits is required.

3. When recommended by the instructional manager and the vice president Academic and Student Affairs and approved by the college president. The reasons for the recommendation must be attached. 

Instructors of professsional/technical courses may qualify for approval in the following ways.

1. Through possession of a baccalaureate degree and a background of at least three years of verifiable work experience. Both the degree and the work experience must be in the instructional area involved. Verification of the degree is required.

2. Instructors for the Associate Degree Nursing program must have a master's degree and at least three years of verifiable work experience.

3. When recommended by the instructional manager and approved by the vice president Academic and Student Affairs.
 

1. Academic Learning Skills, ABE, GED Master's Degree in education, emphasis in reading and other basic skills; in developmental education; in special education for adults; in adult basic education; or equivalent. Must include preparation in basic skills instruction and adult and alternative learning theories. ABE and GED instructors must also have BASIS/CASAS certification.

2. English as a Second Language (ESL) Master's degree in education, TESOL, Linguistics, or equivalent. Must include course work for teaching English as a Second Language, and adult and alternative learning theories.
 

Annual Review of Course Certification Standards  Instructional managers will review and revise course certification standards annually prior to updating faculty certifications.

Annual Updating of Faculty Certification  Instructor qualifications for certification shall be monitored and updated annually, and forwarded to Academic and Student Affairs.  This becomes the official, updated faculty certification on file.  A copy is also maintained in Human Resources.

The following policies shall apply to instructors who no longer meet certification standards for courses or groups of courses as a result of revisions to the standards.

1. Instructors who have taught a course within the previous three years will have one year to meet new certification standards, and may continue to teach the course for the intervening year, pending recertification.

2. Instructors certified previously who have not taught the course within three years will lose certification immediately, and in order to be recertified must provide documentation that meets the new certification standards.