The University employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the institution.

The Louisiana Board of Regents, in 2001, adopted the Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education. In fulfillment of its mission as part of that Master Plan McNeese State University endorses the principle that all faculty meet necessary standards for academic and professional preparation. Additionally the University strives to meet all standards for faculty qualifications as established by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC). The quality of faculty is documented in this report via faculty résumés included as part of the Roster of Instructional Staff.

Selecting qualified faculty is a vital part of the employment process.

Primary Consideration to Highest Degree Earned

Employment guidelines are found on the Human Resources website on the McNeese State University home page. These guidelines set the qualifications that the University uses in determining hires, reappointments, or promotions.

For tenure-track positions, the following qualifications include the final:

• At least a doctoral degree or terminal degree as specified by the accrediting agency for that discipline;

• Demonstrated ability or potential for teaching, research, extension, and/or another scholarly or germane creative activity;

• Ability and willingness to participate in university affairs.

For promotion to tenured positions, the requirements also include distinguished academic achievement. The qualifications for instructors include a master’s degree or equivalent professional experience and the ability or potential for academic pursuits. Visiting and adjunct faculty are held to the same requirements. Of the University’s 305 (total) full-time faculty in fall 2005 and spring 2006, sixty-seven percent held the terminal degree. Of the 244 (number of full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty in the fall of 2005, 77 percent (187) held the terminal degree.

Faculty hiring procedures assure that these qualifications are met when faculty are recruited and hired. Reappointment, promotion and tenure policies assure that these qualifications

The University gives primary consideration to the highest degree earned in the discipline for tenure-track faculty. The list below shows the percentage of faculty in various units who hold the highest degree earned in the discipline:

Fifty-two percent of faculty not holding terminal degrees are instructors or lecturers. Each instructor is hired with a one-year appointment which must be renewed every year. Instructors are not eligible for tenure.

Of the University's 305 (total) full-time faculty in Fall 2005, 67 percent held the terminal degree. Of the 244 full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty in the Fall of 2005, 77 percent (187 ) held the terminal degree. These figures are reflected in the table above. Of two faculty members who hold a baccalaureate, one is an instructor in Nursing who received her Master’s degree in December 2005. The other is a professional musician who holds a position as a Lecturer in Music. This individual has years of professional experience in guitar

Competence, Effectiveness and Capacity of Faculty

To fill a vacated, existing faculty position or to create a new position, the department head must first complete a written request justifying the need to replace the individual and obtains approval through the chain of command. After gaining approval, the supervisor completes the Unclassified Position Description, Justification, and Certification Form, Hiring Plan Form 1, and submits this form to the appropriate Vice President (or President) along with a justification for the position.

Paperwork is submitted through President’s office to the University of Louisiana System Staff. The President’s Office receives approval from the ULS Staff office. Once the appropriate forms have been received from the ULS office, the supervisor may then begin the search process. The supervisor selects a search committee and submits names to Vice President for Special Services and Equity for approval. Once approved, the search committee members begin the search process.

After completion of the search process, the committee then makes a recommendation for hiring to the University. Upon approval of the candidate by the administration, the department head must submit a complete hiring packet, including documentation of candidate’s qualifications. Once approved by the vice president and president, the Letter of Offer then is offered the candidate.

Graduate assistants are required to complete the Graduate Assistant Application, and like other teaching position applications, must include transcripts, résumés, and three letters of recommendation, and a criminal background check. Teaching assistants are also required to meet SACS-COC faculty criteria to teach courses that are offered for college credit. Those who teach developmental courses are directly supervised by an experienced professor, are required to meet regularly with their immediate supervisor, and are evaluated on a regular basis.

The SACS-COC criteria relating to faculty qualifications are considered by the search committee and department heads when seeking to fill instructional positions at any level, as specified in Sections 202.1. and 202.2 of the University's Faculty and Staff Handbook. The committee determines whether or not applicants meet the requirements established by the University’s governing boards, the accreditation agency’s requirements, and the requirements of the University and individual departments.

Individuals who do not fully meet the requirements established by these agencies are qualified by “exception.” The University certifies that six faculty members are qualified by “Exceptions.” In the Roster of Instructional Staff, column four clearly enumerates the “exceptional” conditions under which these faculty are permitted to teach. On the Roster, these individuals are coded as follows: * QUALIFIED BY EXCEPTION * These individuals are listed below along with their “Exceptional” conditions.

• Health and Human Performance. All terms. Jim Murphy. BS degree. Visiting Lecturer. Murphy has been the athletic trainer at McNeese for over 25 years. He is a Licensed Athletic Trainer in the State of Louisiana: Physical Therapy License – Louisiana; National Athletic Trainer Certificate;

• Teacher Education. All terms. Glenda Banks. BS degree. Visiting Lecturer. Banks only teaches sign language. Supporting documents offered in column 4.

• English and Foreign Language. All terms. PhD in Comparative Literature. Associate Professor. She has 17 graduate hours in Spanish (discipline she teaches). Column 4 includes documentation referring to 31 graduate hours in Spanish she received from a university in Mexico. Her transcript has been reviewed by World Education Services (WES).

• Chemistry. All terms. Richard Donahoe. Master’s degree in Environmental Science. Visiting Lecturer. Chemistry 100 course he teaches is Introduction to Forensic Chemistry. Documents on file demonstrating experience related to employment.

• Performing Arts. Spring 2006 only. Eric Sylvester. BA-Music Theory. Lecturer. Exception relates only to Music 445, a pedagogy course. Years of professional experience performing guitar shown in Column 4. Performing Arts. Fall 2006 only. Lonny Benoit. Master of Music in Percussion Performance. Approved by Graduate Council for Temporary Membership on Graduate Faculty. Teaching Percussion 501.

Justification and Documentation of Faculty Qualifications

The University verifies that at least twenty-five percent of the discipline course hours in each undergraduate major are taught by faculty members holding the terminal degree in the discipline, unless otherwise indicated. The table in supporting documentation reflects these data.

Rosters of instructional staff, included as supporting documentation, are available for Fall 2005, Spring 2006, and Fall 2006. Column 2 lists courses taught. Column 3 identifies faculty qualifications. Column 4 lists additional documents for faculty members, and when appropriate, Column 4 indicates “Qualified By Exception.” These exceptions may verify qualifications, in addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees that, in the University's estimation, qualify the individual to teach the courses noted.

Each department head is responsible for corroborating with his or her faculty to verify that the Roster remains accurate and correct. The Roster is returned, with any necessary changes, to the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research each academic semester.

McNeese State University accepts full responsibility for justifying and documenting these qualifications. The University follows established procedures that serve as internal accountability checks, ensuring adherence to faculty standards for qualifications. Integrity is assured by the following:

• Required forms must be completed.

• All original transcripts be sent directly from respective universities to the Vice President of Academic Affairs office. The transcripts cannot be hand delivered by the applicant.

• The department head must complete the checklist included on the form acknowledging receipt of official applications for employment, résumés, and official transcripts from all institutions attended.

• Three letters of reference are also required.

Official transcripts for all faculty members are kept on file in the Office of Academic Affairs. Faculty résumés are available for review in this document.

Supporting Evidence

Full Time Faculty by tenure and degree status

Table of Faculty with Terminal Degree