To outline the minimum academic and/or professional credentials required of employees who teach and/or facilitate courses, labs and/or field/clinical placements at Seneca.
Employee Academic and Professional Credential Policy
Purpose
Scope
This policy includes all full-time and contract employees teaching courses and/or facilitating labs and/or field or clinical placements at Seneca.
Key definitions
Academic credential
A credential from a Canadian, or an accredited and/or recognized postsecondary institution outside of Canada that is equivalent to a Canadian credential, that indicates that the person has successfully completed a program of study.
Professional credential
A credential from a certifying or regulatory body affirming that the individual has the essential knowledge and skills of a specific professional field required for safe and current practice.
Breadth course
A course in a program that enables students to explore a range of topics and issues separate from their core program topics.
Core course
A course that is directly linked to the field of study of the student’s program.
Policy
1. Academic credential requirements
- Certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate programs
- Employees falling under the scope of the policy teaching in a specific program are normally required to hold an academic credential at least one higher than the credential the students they are teaching will earn upon graduation.
- Employees falling under the scope of the policy teaching within a specific program may also be required to possess the appropriate qualifications and expertise in the field related to the program, and, where relevant, be eligible to be practitioners in that field.
- Individual employment competitions may require credentials at a higher level.
- Degree programs
- Employees falling under the scope of the policy teaching core courses in a degree program will hold an advanced academic credential, normally the terminal credential1, or at least one credential higher than a baccalaureate in the field of study, or in a closely related field/discipline.
- A minimum of 50 per cent of those teaching core courses within a specific degree program will hold the terminal academic credential in the field of study, or in a closely related field/discipline.
- Employees falling under the scope of the policy teaching breadth courses in a degree program will hold an advanced academic credential, normally the terminal credential*, or at least one credential higher than a baccalaureate in the field of study or in a closely related field / discipline.
*Note: A doctorate is normally the terminal academic credential in all fields or disciplines. - A minimum of 50 per cent of those teaching breadth courses within a specific degree program will hold the terminal academic credential in the field of study, or in a closely related field/discipline.
2. Verification of academic credential
- Employees who teach falling under the scope of the policy must provide evidence to Seneca of their credential(s). All credentials will undergo verification. Credentials issued from institutions outside of Canada will be evaluated for the purpose of teaching and must be equivalent to Canadian credentials. Academic credentials must be released directly to Seneca by the awarding institution and will be kept on file.
3. Professional credential requirements
- All employees falling under the scope of the policy teaching and/or facilitating in fields where a professional accreditation, registration or licence is normally required must hold a current professional registration or licence. For example, those teaching nursing courses are required to be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- Technicians and/or academic staff acting as research, clinical and/or exhibition supervisors will meet requirements outlined by the regulated profession, including professional certification, registration and/or licence.
Supporting documentation
- None
Related Seneca policies
- None
Related materials
- None
Approval Date: February 2018