3.3 Criteria in Selecting Faculty Members

FNU uses the following norms in selecting members for faculty:

1. The applicant must be knowledgeable of the mission of the University and must positively accept and agree to participate in the fulfillment of that mission.
2. The applicant must demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication in English.
3. The applicant seeking full-time status must attest to the fact that his/her major employment is with the University.
4. The faculty member’s employment status is based upon whether they are teaching a full-time or part-time class load.
5. Any faculty member teaching in the areas of Humanities/Liberal Arts, Social/Behavioral Sciences, ESL and STEM related courses must have completed at least eighteen (18) graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline and hold at least a master’s degree or hold the minimum of a master’s degree with a major in the teaching discipline. Outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may be presented in lieu of formal academic preparation in the above areas (SACSCOC criterion).
6. Each full-time and adjunct faculty member teaching credit courses in professional, occupational, and technical areas that are components of associate degree programs not usually resulting in university transfer, or in the continuation of students in senior institutions, must possess appropriate academic preparation or academic preparation coupled with work experience.
7. The prospective faculty member teaching in professional, occupational and technical areas must possess, at a minimum, academic credentials at the level at which the faculty member is teaching (SACSCOC criterion).
8. In exceptional cases, the candidate possessing (fully demonstrated and documented) outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may present this in lieu of formal academic preparation for transfer and non-transfer courses in these areas (SACSCOC criterion).
9. Applicants seeking to teach non-degree diploma or certificate occupational courses should have some university or specialized training, but with an emphasis on competence in the fields in which they teach.
10. Applicants must have special competence in the fields in which they wish to teach.
11. Applicants for the teaching of imaging (Radiography, Ultrasound, and Respiratory) and in other Allied Health and Nursing programs must have an active state or national license, in addition to meeting Criterion 7.
12. Candidates who teach computation and remediation courses in non-degree occupational programs must have a bachelor’s degree in the teaching discipline, or associate’s degree, and demonstrated competencies in the teaching discipline (years of experience, certifications, or licenses).
13. Those seeking to teach adult basic education courses below the collegiate level must have a bachelor’s degree plus those attributes or experiences which help them relate to the needs of the adults they teach.
14. Faculty members who teach in developmental programs must hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to their teaching assignment and have either teaching experience in a discipline related to their assignment or graduate training in remedial education.
15. Those applicants seeking adjunct teaching positions must adhere to the above and must be accessible to the students.
16. Official transcripts must be presented for each and every degree obtained, whether domestic or foreign. Applicants submitting degrees and transcripts from foreign universities must submit an original evaluation of those transcripts by a nationally recognized evaluation institution. If these documents are in a language other than English, the applicant must also submit a translation of these documents from the same nationally recognized evaluation institution. FNU reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of these translations and evaluations.

FNU understands that the selection of competent, appropriately credentialed faculty, coupled with their development in the art of teaching, directly impacts the quality of education at the university. Consistent development and retention of qualified and engaged faculty will provide students with the resources for academic success at every academic level of the university. The number of full-time faculty members of FNU is adequate to the provision of effective teaching, advising and scholarly or creative activity, as well as appropriate to participate in curriculum development, policy making, and institutional planning and governance.

FNU is committed to a policy and a practice of deciding all matters relating to employment, including compensation, and promotion, based on qualification and merit. FNU is an equal opportunity employer. FNU does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, national origin, race, sex, or any other protected category in the administration of its educational, admission or registration policies, scholarships, loan programs, employment practices, or any University-administered program.

FNU accepts applications and resumes at any time. These are kept on file and interviews may occur if a position is open.

FNU maintains a file for each member of the faculty. This documentation includes professional and work experience, technical and performance competency, transcripts of degrees, documentation of credentials, records of publications, certifications, licenses, and other qualifications.

Note: Inactive faculty folders will be maintained for only five years.