equivalence at mpc goals: 1.articulate to the mpc community the expectations for granting...

Equivalence at MPC

Goals:

1. Articulate to the MPC community the expectations for granting equivalency to faculty applicants

2. Clearly define roles and responsibilities in the equivalency process

Division and Department ChairsEquivalency CommitteeHuman Resources Personnel

Where We Are Now:Review by AAAG

Progress So Far:Draft expectations developed by the equivalency committeeForms reviewed and revised by the equivalency committeeApproved by the Academic Senate

Tasks for the Future:Communication to the MPC CommunityReview and revision of MPC Board Policy

Equivalence at MPC

A district may hire a person who “possesses qualifications that are at least equivalent to the [state] minimum qualifications.” “The process, as well as criteria and standards…shall be developed and agreed upon jointly by …the [local] governing board and the [local] academic senate.” (Title 5, section 53430)

What is Equivalency?

We are currently reviewing our “criteria and standards”

Why Is Equivalency Important?

One way to ensure the quality of instruction

Budget-minded legislators and/or regulators can “attack” certain credit courses and suggest that they be moved to non-credit or community service through the qualifications of the instructor

Best strategy is to have rigorous hiring and equivalency policies

Kinds of Minimum Qualifications

1. Disciplines requiring a masters degreeMostly transfer Specific requirements developed by the BoG in

consultation with the State Academic Senate

2. Disciplines not requiring a masters degreeMostly CTEAssociates + 6 years experience or Bachelors + 2 years exp.Specific requirements developed by the BoG in consultation

with the State Academic Senate

Remember, all degrees—masters and non-masters—require both discipline (the major) and general education aspects.

A Note on Disciplines Not Requiring a Masters Degree (CTE)

Spring 2010 ASCCC Resolution

“There is no equivalent to the AA Degree”

This resolution failed resoundingly

Many in the CTE fields do not have AA Degrees

Proponents argued that college faculty should have college degrees

Minimum Quals Do’s and Don’ts

Does enable one to be hired by the district to serve as facultyEnsures discipline knowledge

Doesn’t mean the applicant has the ability to teach or serveCovered by the hiring process

Doesn’t mean the applicant should be hired

Does mean that discipline knowledge is but one part of what a successful faculty member needs

Kinds of Equivalency

Full Minimum QualificationsEncouraged by the state Academic Senate (ASCCC)Desired by MPC Equivalency CommitteeEnables faculty member to teach throughout the disciplineAlways used for full-time, tenure-track applicants

“Single Course”Title 5, Section 53430: "No one may be hired to serve as a

community college faculty unless the governing board determines that he or she possesses qualifications that are at least equivalent to the minimum qualifications specified."

ASCCC maintains there is no such thing as a "single course equivalency

2003 legal opinion by Chancellor’s Office General Counsel Ralph Black

More on Single Course Equivalency

Still offered by MPC Called “Selected Courses Equivalency”Used for adjuncts, never for full-timeMPC is rural and cannot always attract fully qualified applicantsMPC must still address its missionMPC Equivalency Committee would like to grant as few of these

as possible

What differences in expectations between full equivalency and Selected Course Equivalency should be established?

What about Eminence?

The idea that if somebody is “eminent” they can be hired as facultyNo longer exists in Title 5Definition is problematical = a big can of wormsASCCC Spring 2009 Resolution 10.01

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges conclude that eminence may no longer be used as the sole criterion to qualify faculty when evaluating minimum qualifications during the faculty hiring process;

MPC Interpretation of Eminence

Eminence is recognized as professional experience

Candidates with appropriate professional experience (2 to 6 years) are eminent in their CTE disciplines

“Eminent” candidates should be able to demonstrate how aspects of their professional experience are equivalent to GE degree requirements in CTE disciplines Major degree requirements in Transfer disciplines

All candidates must have taken at least some GE courses

MPC Criteria and Standards

Expectations focus on differences between:

Full Equivalency and Selected CoursesProcess Discipline expertise

Disciplines that require a masters degree (transfer) and those that don’t (CTE)

How applicant obtained the GE portion of the degree

Full Equivalency toMinimum Qualifications

Specific Courses Equivalency

General Considerations

Person responsible for most of the application paperwork

The applicant The department or division chair

Courses the instructor can teach

All in the discipline Only those specified on the application

Additional requirements None Must demonstrate that a search for a fully qualified or equivalent candidate was not successful

Discipline or major part of the degree

Full Equivalency according to the “Minimum Qualifications Handbook”

Expertise more narrowly focused than implied by the minimum qualifications

Differences between full and specific courses equivalency focus on process and discipline expertise.











Expertise more narrowly focused than implied by the minimum qualificationsThis is new

Not yet implemented












MPC Equivalency Committee has carefully granted full equivalency only to those applicants who have clearly obtained the equivalent to a

masters degree.

This is newNot yet implemented

MPC Criteria and Standards

Expectations focus on differences between:

Full Equivalency and Selected CoursesProcess Discipline expertise

Disciplines that require a masters degree (transfer) and those that don’t (CTE)

How applicant obtained the GE portion of the degree



For disciplines that require a Masters degree or equivalent

The GE part of the degree Completion of a GE program at the Associates or Bachelors level

Completion of a GE program at the Associates or Bachelors level

For disciplines that require an Associate degree (Assoc + 6 yrs exp. or Bach + 2yrs exp.)

Expectations for the GE part of the degree

Completion of, or full equivalency to the GE part of the degree


Methods to obtain equivalency to the GE part of the degree

GE courses plus or minus professional experience


Expectations of Full and Specific Course equivalency are the same in this section













No equivalent to the GE program for the masters

disciplines













Equivalency to the GE program for non-masters

disciplines

Roles and ResponsibilitiesDivision and Department Chairs

Understand equivalency expectationsRead applications carefullyEndorse qualifications of applicants via signature

(we’d like improvement here)

Equivalency CommitteeApproves applications to assure equitable and consistent

implementation of processesCommunicates final approval or disapproval to HR and Divisions

HR DepartmentDistributes appropriate formsBrings applications to equivalency committeeAdvises applicants on the need for equivalency applicationsDoes not make decisions on equivalency applications

Equivalency

This is a subtle and complex process

It needs your careful consideration and thoughtful comments

Thank You!

equivalence at mpc goals: 1.articulate to the mpc community the expectations for granting...

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