Qualified, effective faculty members are essential to carrying out the mission of
the institution and ensuring the quality and integrity of its academic programs. The
tradition of shared governance within American higher education recognizes the importance
of both faculty and administrative involvement in the approval of educational programs.
Because student learning is central to the institution’s mission and educational degrees,
the faculty is responsible for directing the learning enterprise, including overseeing
and coordinating educational programs to ensure that each contains essential curricular
components, has appropriate content and pedagogy, and maintains discipline currency.
Achievement of the institution’s mission with respect to teaching, research, and service
requires a critical mass of qualified full-time faculty to provide direction and oversight
of the academic programs. Due to this significant role, it is imperative that an effective
system of evaluation be in place for all faculty members that addresses the institution’s
obligations to foster intellectual freedom of faculty to teach, serve, research, and
publish.
6.2a: For each of its educational programs, the institution justifies and documents
the qualifications of its faculty members. (Faculty qualifications)
The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, ed. College
Delegate Assembly (Decatur: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
on Colleges, 2017 edition)
