Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Online Compliance Certification
Judgment of Compliance |
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X |
Compliance |
Partial Compliance |
Non-Compliance |
NARRATIVE/JUSTIFICATION FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Southeast Kentucky Community and
These numbers reflect the Institution’s commitment to its mission of offering course work and programs that (1) prepare students to transfer to 4-year Institutions, and (2) are designed to prepare individuals to enter the workforce [2]. Moreover, the breakdown also reflects the emphasis given to various programs in support of the mission. For example, allied health faculty support one of the state’s most comprehensive sets of program offerings in health sciences, including nursing (LPN and RN), clinical laboratory technology, physical therapy assisting, radiography, respiratory care, medical assisting and surgical technology. The teacher-student ratio in several of these programs is low, reflecting not only the strict requirements of program accrediting agencies but also the college’s desire to ensure that the quality of instruction is of the highest caliber. At the same time the number of faculty assigned to natural sciences reflects the fact that (1) many of the courses offered in the division support students in allied health, and (2) the division offers a large number of courses in support of general education and the college’s transfer mission. Applied science programs in business administration, criminal justice, and office systems contribute to the need for the large number of faculty in social sciences as does the division’s support of general education and the transfer mission. Assisting students in fulfilling general education requirements for both applied science and transfer programs accounts for the relatively large number of faculty assigned to communications, humanities and fine arts. And while the number of faculty assigned to industrial technologies appears small when compared to the other divisions, it can be attributed to two things: First, after consolidation with Cumberland Valley Technical College, SKCTC has eliminated duplicative programs that were offered on both its Middlesboro and Harlan campuses (electricity in Middlesboro and diesel mechanics in Harlan), eliminating three faculty positions, and secondly, two faculty members who were considered as ‘support teachers’ for industrial technologies prior to consolidation were assigned to other divisions. See faculty roster: [3].
The college believes that it has a sufficient number of full-time faculty to support its mission, and that faculty assignments reflect the particular program mix in place at SKCTC. Indeed, the need for faculty is always tied to programs and the program review process. Programs, including those in associate in arts and associate in sciences, are reviewed annually [4] [5] [6]. During this process, a central question that is always asked is whether there is a continued need for the program. A number of factors are examined in answering this question. At the same time, SKCTC is continuously engaged in environmentally scanning so as to be able to detect the need for new programs. New programs are not offered unless a strong case can be offered to support the need and the Institution is able to demonstrate that it has (or will have) the financial resources needed to fully support program implementation, including the hiring of new faculty [7].
To achieve its goal of providing an “enthusiastic, well-prepared faculty” the college is committed to employing competent, qualified individuals. The college not only seeks out individuals well qualified in their fields but those who are committed to teaching excellence and are committed to helping students succeed. New faculty are hired following a thorough review process that involves the screening of applications by a search committee, the interviewing of top candidates (all of whom are asked to demonstrate their teaching skills), and the offering of a position to the individual judged to be the best fit for SKCTC.
The normal teaching load for faculty members is a combination of credit and contact hours – fifteen (15) credit hours per semester or equivalent for the academic year, fall and spring semesters. The maximum number of contact hours per week for a full-time occupational / technical instructor does not exceed thirty (30). In determining faculty loads, the college also examines at the number of teaching laboratories and clinicals that involve extensive contact hours. In such cases adjustments are made.
In addition to instruction, faculty work includes guidance-advising activities, internal-Institutional service, external service-community service, professional development activities, and educational leadership [8].
The college employs a number of part-time faculty to help in meeting the needs of its instructional program. The ratio of part-time to full-time
faculty—in terms of credit hours taught—is 63.6 percent to 36.4 percent.
Part-time faculty must have the same academic credentials as do full-time
faculty. The requirements and
responsibilities for part-time faculty members are clearly stated in the Adjunct
Faculty Handbook [9]. SKCTC employs part-time faculty who teach at
local Area Technology Centers in
