Certification for Part-time Faculty

ConvocationOctober 25, 2011

Who must be Certified? Credit instructors

• Must obtain WTCS Adult Ed Certification Non-Credit Instructors

• Must be “certifiable” under WTCS standards, but need not actually obtain certification

Instructors certified after hiring

In What Must They Be Certified?

Certification Types• Approval

Certification granted to teach a particular course PT Vocational Instructors who teach less than 3

unique courses• Provisional

Certification granted to teach in a particular instructional area

All academic instructors and vocational instructors teaching 3 or more unique courses

• 5-year Granted to teach in a particular instructional area

How Do They Become Certified? Requirements

• Educational Experience Academic

Bachelors degree (Masters required by College Accreditation Agency) Vocational

Bachelors degree or equivalent “BA Equivalent”= Occupational experience, education and training equaling 7 years or

14,000 hours

• Work Experience Academic- 12 months in any field except education Vocational- 24 months as fully qualified, non-teaching, worker in instructional

area• Teaching Experience

2 years FT or 8 semesters PT teaching experience required for 5-year certificate

• Coursework The “Magic 7” Continuing Education

What Are the “Magic 7” Courses?

50. Curriculum or course construction 2 cr.*

51. Philosophy of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education 2 cr.*

52. Teaching methods 2 cr.* 53. Educational psychology 2 cr.* 54. Educational evaluation 2 cr.* 55. Guidance and counseling 2 cr.* 69. Educational diversity 2 cr.*

When Do They Have to Be Certified?

Initial Certification Period• 3 years• One “Magic 7” course must be completed

Renewal Period• 2 years• One additional “Magic 7” course per

renewal period.• Each renewal period ends August 31 of the

appropriate year Progress towards 5-year certificate

Where Do They Get the Courses?

CETL• Certification vs. BA credit vs. Masters credit• Learning Academy• School-year offerings• On-line offerings

How is the 5-Year Certificate Renewed?

Renewal every 5 years Must complete 6 credits through one or more of the

following:• 6 approved semester credits of course work (Continuing

Education)• 6 “credits” of appropriate occupational experience

55 hours = 1 credit• 6 credits of professional growth activity (i.e. convocation

attendance) 40 hours= 1 credit Lots of other options: Workshops, Professional Service, Professional

Speaking, Cross-Training, Special Assignments, Print Media/Art or other productions, Leadership role, Curriculum development, Instructional Innovation, Research and Development, Mentoring, Externships, etc.

Who Issues the Certification? WTCS

• WI Stat 38.04(4) State Technical College Board sets standards for

instructors• WI Administrative Code, Chapter TCS 3

MATC• Completes Forms• Pays fee ($9 per instructional area per year)• Is fined for non-compliance

Within MATC• HR Department- Jennifer Bentley, Laurel Anderson

Why Be Certified? Teaching is a Profession Subject matter expertise does not always

translate into teaching expertise Professional Quality Control Teaching in VoTech system not like University

• Differing student backgrounds Age, Employment, Educational Experience/Achievement,

Demographics• Open Enrollment• Combines subject matter expertise of college

instructor with teaching expertise of secondary school instructor.

What Changes Have Been Proposed?

Group of 5 Tech School Presidents (including Bettsey Barhorst)• Eliminate state certification requirements, leave instructor

credentials up to individual colleges.• Use discipline-specific standards• School decides what, if any, standards are required

History of problems with school-led quality initiatives Course Portfolios PT faculty evaluation Position requirements that vary based on inappropriate considerations

PT Guild Model• Maintain Statewide Uniform Certification• Enhance on-line/ on-demand certification course offerings, expand

other flexible course options• Incentivize 5-year certification• Maximize instructor content-area certification