Faculty Academic/Professional Credential Requirements Policy

1. Academic Credential Requirements

All Programs

1.1. Normally, academic staff teaching within a given program are required to hold an academic credential at least one credential higher than the level of the credential which the student will earn upon graduation from the given program.

1.2. Teaching staff, teaching within a given program may also be required to possess recognized qualifications/endorsements and expertise, and where relevant, be practitioners.

Degree Programs

1.3. All teaching staff teaching core courses in a degree program:

1.3.1. Their credential must be related to the discipline of the course(s) being taught.

1.3.2. It will be an advanced academic credential, normally the terminal credential, at least one credential higher than a baccalaureate in the field study or in a closely related field/discipline; and

1.3.3. No fewer than 50 percent of the teaching staff teaching core courses within a given degree program will hold the terminal academic credential in the field of study or in a closely related field/discipline.

1.4  All teaching staff teaching breadth courses:

1.4.1. Will hold an advanced academic credential, normally the terminal credential but at least one credential higher than a baccalaureate in the field of study or in a closely related field/discipline; and

1.4.2. No fewer than 50 percent of the faculty members teaching non-core courses within a given degree program will hold the terminal academic credential in the field of study or in a closely related field/discipline.

1.5  Any exceptions to the above must:

1.5.1. Be based on the absence of a related program credential in a post-secondary institution or other extraordinary circumstances; and

1.5.2. Be justified in writing with specific reference to the credential requirements of this policy and approved by the President, or, on explicit delegation, the College’s senior academic officer.

2. Verification of Academic Credential(s)

Teaching staff must provide evidence to the College of their credential(s). Credentials issued from institutions outside of Canada will be evaluated for purposes of teaching in all Humber College programs. International credentials must be proven to meet the standard of similarly named credentials offered by Canadian institutions. The College will hold on file verification that the highest academic credential claimed was actually awarded. Normally academic credentials must be released directly to the College by the awarding institution.

3. Professional Credential Requirements

Normally, teaching staff in those fields where a professional accreditation, registration or license is required will be expected to hold that accreditation, professional registration or license to teach. For example, teaching staff teaching nursing subjects are required to be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario; teaching staff teaching accounting are required to hold a CGA, CA, CMA, or the equivalent. In those fields where accreditation is not mandatory, teaching staff will be expected to hold the related accreditation or commit to pursue it within a five-year period.

4. Work Experience

Teaching staff teaching courses that are directly workplace related are required to have a minimum of five years appropriate experience in the field.