Lansing Community College
Procedure Details

Procedure Title: Faculty Qualifications – Verification of Individual Minima
Procedure #: AA.004
Revision #: 005

Unit Responsible: Academic Affairs
Individual Responsible: Academic Affairs Project Manager

Effective Date: 10/07/2025
Initial Approval Date: 01/25/2019
Last Review/Update Date: 10/07/2025
Next Review Date: 10/01/2028

*Does this procedure support a Board Policy? Yes
If yes, identify: 7.020-Hiring and Contract Approval

Board policies can be found at: LCC Board of Trustees Policy Page

*Does this procedure support HLC criteria and/or Assumed Practices? Yes
If yes, identify: 3C, B2

HLC Criteria can be found at: HLC Accreditation Criteria
HLC Assumed Practices can be found at: HLC Assumed Practices

*Does this procedure support a State or Federal Regulation? No
If yes, identify: N/A

*Note: Standard Operating Procedures should be in furtherance of some LCC policy and/or accreditation criteria, even if the relationship is not direct. Assistance in determining this information can be obtained from the Academic Procedure Advisory Committee (APAC) and/or the Accreditation Liaison Officer.

Faculty Qualifications – Verification of Individual Minima, BP 7.020

1. Purpose

To verify that faculty teaching credit-bearing courses meet minimum faculty qualifications to teach particular courses at Lansing Community College (LCC).


2. Scope

Applies to any faculty member who wishes to teach a credit-bearing course.


3. Prerequisites

Application for employment for any new faculty position requires submission of an unofficial academic transcript, an unofficial evaluation of foreign credential(s), or a portfolio for alternative credentialing.

Prior to any offer of faculty employment, submission of an official academic transcript, an official evaluation of foreign credential(s), or a portfolio for alternative credentialing is required.

Establishment of minimum faculty qualifications for courses, including equivalent experience where applicable, is governed by standard operating procedure (SOP) AA.005 Faculty Qualifications – Establishment of Minimum for a Course.


4. Responsibilities

  • Academic Affairs Project Manager (AAPM) – As designee for the Provost, responsible for overseeing this SOP; for working with Human Resources to ensure that faculty job descriptions correctly reflect minimum faculty qualifications to teach the appropriate courses, that applicants prior to interviewing for faculty positions possess unofficial documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications, and that candidates prior to hiring into faculty positions possess official documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications; and for evaluating, signing, and deciding upon faculty appeals of eligibility to teach.
  • Human Resources (HR) – Responsible for working with the AAPM to ensure that faculty job descriptions correctly reflect minimum faculty qualifications to teach the appropriate courses, that applicants prior to interviewing for faculty positions possess unofficial documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications, and that candidates prior to hiring into faculty positions possess official documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications; and for maintaining and updating HR faculty employment files.
  • Interview Candidate – Responsible for submitting their unofficial documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications when applying for a faculty position.
  • Hiring Candidate – Responsible for requesting their official documentation of the necessary minimum faculty qualifications to be sent to HR when requested.
  • Faculty Member – Responsible for completing and submitting faculty appeal of eligibility to teach if desired.
  • Supervisor of Faculty Member – Responsible for verifying what courses a faculty member is eligible to teach, and for evaluating, signing, and forwarding faculty appeals of eligibility to teach.
  • Dean – Responsible for verifying what course(s) a faculty member is eligible to teach, and for evaluating, signing, and forwarding faculty appeals of eligibility to teach.


5. Procedure

  1. Job Description Development and Approval Process 
    1. Prior to posting any faculty position for hiring, HR submits the position’s proposed job description to the AAPM for review. 
    2. The APPM verifies that the educational credentials, alternative credentials, and/or equivalent experiences listed on the proposed job description match approved faculty qualifications on file and are in line with HLC expectations. 
    3. The APPM responds to HR with approval of, or recommended changes to, the proposed job description. 
    4. If changes are necessary, HR facilitates corrections of the proposed job description with the search committee.
  2. Interview Candidate Qualification Review Process 
    1. Prior to any candidate’s interview, the search committee sends an email to the AAPM and HR with copies of the candidate’s unofficial transcript(s) or unofficial evaluation of international credential(s), candidate’s licensures/certifications if applicable, and job description.
    2. HR reviews each candidate’s resume to verify job experience if it is required by the job description and/or if equivalent experience is being used to satisfy credential requirements.
    3. The AAPM reviews each candidate’s unofficial transcript(s) or unofficial evaluation of international credential(s), along with the candidate’s resume and the job description if needed, to determine if the candidates meet the educational qualifications for the position and hence for eligibility to be interviewed.
    4. The AAPM replies with an email to the search committee and HR regarding final determination of whether the candidates meet the educational qualifications for the position and hence for eligibility to be interviewed.

C. Final Hiring Candidate Qualification Review Process

  1. Upon receipt of the official transcript or official evaluation of international credential(s) of a hiring candidate, HR scans the official documentation to the HR Transcripts Received workspace and emails the AAPM that the documentation is ready for review.
  2. The AAPM reviews the official transcript(s) or official evaluation of international credential(s), along with the candidate’s resume and the job description if needed, to determine if the official documentation received is accurate, corresponds with the unofficial documentation previously submitted, and qualifies the candidate for the faculty position.
    1. Under exceptional circumstances, the AAPM may accept unofficial documentation as evidence confirming faculty qualifications.
  3. The AAPM notifies HR via email whether the official transcript(s) or official evaluation of international credential(s) on file qualifies the candidate for the faculty position. 
  4. If the official transcript or official evaluation of international credential does not reflect what was submitted prior to interviewing, a new determination will need to be made of the candidate’s qualifications. 
  5. Upon hiring, the faculty member’s supervisor verifies what courses the faculty is eligible to teach.
  6. After hiring, HR updates the published Faculty Directory accordingly.

D.     Faculty Appeal Process

  1. A faculty member wishing to appeal their current teaching qualifications so that they may teach additional courses begins an appeal by completing and signing the form called Appeal Process for Eligibility to Teach. An explanation of what is required for the appeal is in the N: workspace called Guidelines for Appeal of Teaching Eligibility.
    1. A faculty member basing their appeal upon degree(s) already on file with HR must attach an explanatory narrative and, if appropriate, other supporting documentation with the form.
    2. A faculty member basing their appeal upon degree(s) not yet on file with HR must request their official academic transcript or official evaluation of their foreign credential(s) to be sent to HR, and attach an unofficial copy with their form.
  2. After completing and signing the form, the faculty member sends the form, along with supporting narrative and/or other supporting documentation, to their supervisor for review.
  3. Within 10 business days of receipt of the form and accompanying documentation, the supervisor reviews the form and accompanying documentation, signs the form with either support or non-support of the appeal, and sends the form and accompanying documentation to the appropriate Dean for review.
  4. Within 10 business days of receipt of the form and accompanying documentation, the Dean reviews the form and accompanying documentation, signs the form with either support or non-support of the appeal, and sends the form and accompanying documentation to the AAPM for review.
  5. Within 10 business days of receipt of the form and accompanying documentation, the AAPM, along with the Provost if needed, reviews the form, accompanying documentation, and official transcript or official evaluation of international credential(s) to determine whether the faculty member’s qualifications can be changed, and via email informs the faculty member, supervisor, Dean, and HR of approval or denial of the request, including explanation of the reason(s) for any denial.
  6. The AAPM saves an electronic copy of the appeal and related documents in the Academic Affairs N: workspace.


6. Reference


7. Definitions

  • Transcript – Academic record of a student at an accredited college or university based in the United States recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
    • Official – Issued directly from the college or university to LCC, whether physical or electronic
    • Unofficial – Received from or through a source other than the issuing college or university, whether physical or electronic
  • International credential – A degree or certificate earned at a college or university based in any country other than the United States
    • Official evaluation – Issued directly from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluators (NACES) to LCC, whether physical or electronic
    • Unofficial evaluation – Issued by a member of NACES but received from or through a source other than NACES, whether physical or electronic