YC Teaching Requirements
For questions contact the Office of Instructional Support
Yavapai College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In accordance with the Higher Learning Commission, Core Component 3.C, Yavapai College has established the following faculty credential criteria to maintain effective, high-quality programs and student services.
Determining Qualified Faculty through HLC's Criteria for Accreditation and Assumed Practices
Credentialing Requirements for Yavapai College Faculty
All Yavapai College faculty teaching transfer courses are expected to hold a graduate degree from an accredited college or university. A transfer course is defined as a course in subject areas where work toward the associate transfer degrees carries transfer credit toward baccalaureate degrees.
General Education (Transfer)
In the context of general education courses, or other non-occupational courses, achievement of academic credentials typically means that an instructor holds a Master’s degree or higher. Generally, this degree is in the discipline or subfield in which the instructor is teaching. If an instructor holds the degree in a discipline or subfield other than that in which they are teaching, the individual completed a reasonable amount of coursework in the discipline or subfield, is making progress towards these academic qualifications, has equivalent experience, or a combination of these criteria.
- A Master’s degree or higher in the discipline or subfield.
- A Master’s degree or higher in any discipline AND 18 graduate semester hours in the discipline or subfield.
Faculty and instructional staff teaching courses in Career & Technical Education courses must hold an associate degree and document five years or 5,000 hours of current professional experience in the field or hold a license from a nationally recognized professional association and document five years or 5,000 hours of current professional experience in the field.
Exceptions are permitted on a case-by-case basis as determined by full-time faculty and appropriate AVP/Dean, which are consistent with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) guidelines, that could include, but are not limited to: the achievement of academic credentials, progress toward academic credentials, equivalent experience, or some combination thereof.
For both general education and occupational areas, other credentials may be considered in cases of instructional emergencies. This requires approval by the Provost or the Vice President of Workforce and Health Sciences, in consultation with appropriate full-time faculty, and is only for the course duration.
Transcript Evaluation Accrediting Agencies
Please click the link to view the complete list of the accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, the Council for Higher Education or by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation Commission as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training offered by institutions of higher education they accredit.
Institutions must be accredited by one of the below regional accrediting agencies in order for Yavapai College to document credentials for teaching:
- Middles States Commission on Higher Education
- The New England Commission of Higher Education
- Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Please click the link to view the complete list
If the class(es) or degree that is being used for credentialing purposes was earned by an institution outside of the US, your transcripts must be evaluated by a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service that has been approved by Yavapai College. The cost associated with this evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant.
All full-time faculty need to complete the First Year Faculty @YC orientation program. Scheduled monthly meetings are required during the first year of hire.
New Adjunct Faculty are required to complete the New Adjunct Orientation and the self-paced Canvas Readiness Course.