Higher Education Faculty Register Policy

Purpose

This policy outlines the procedures regarding the Alphacrucis University College (AC) Higher Education (HE) Faculty Register and defines the qualifications and/or professional experience required to be a HE faculty member at AC campuses and Higher Education Third Parties (HETPs).

Scope

All campuses and HETPs
All HE courses of study

Policy

AC maintains an AC Higher Education Faculty Register which contains the profiles of suitably qualified lecturers, their approved subject areas, research, scholarship, professional development, and supervision information. The Register is overseen by the Quality Assurance Department using AC's Online Faculty Profiles, which is owned by the Deputy Vice President (DVP) Faculty .

AC and HETP faculty with primary instructional responsibility for a subject are to be qualified, in a relevant field, to at least one Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) qualification level higher than the subject being taught (AQF+1) or are to demonstrate equivalent professional experience. Occasional guest or associate lecturers under supervision, professional experience mentors, and subject tutors and markers under supervision, are exempt from this requirement. In this case, the relevant Head of School may appoint a supervisor to oversee the teaching and/or moderation of a sample of graded assessments to ensure teaching and assessment practices are at the expected academic standard.

Subject Coordinators should always be AQF+1 to the subject they coordinate. Teaching faculty will demonstrate continuing scholarship that informs their teaching.

Teaching faculty may be appointed, even though they do not hold qualifications at least one AQF level higher than the subject being taught, providing they can demonstrate a satisfactory combination of academic knowledge and professional experience in order to provide the most benefit to students.

Professional Equivalence Criteria

The following are the minimum criteria for professional experience equivalence:

1. Professional experience must be current and relevant to the subject being taught;
2. Heads of School are responsible for employment of HE academic staff and therefore must be satisfied that the professional experience will provide relevant staff with the appropriate level of skills, knowledge and application of skills and knowledge. This responsibility may be delegated to a Head of Discipline or similar;
3. The assessment of the professional experience of an individual should be based on demonstrable expertise. Examples of demonstrable expertise include:

• Previous teaching experience in the field of expertise at a recognised Australian tertiary higher education provider or international higher education provider of equivalent standard;
• leadership in the development of professional standards or participation in relevant boards, advisory board and professional networks;
• relevant industry experience in a role that requires higher order judgement and the provision of expert advice, or a role at a senior level;
• managing significant projects in the field of expertise;
• testimonials, awards or other recognition that acknowledges leadership or expertise in the field of study;
• contributions in the field of study through participation in advisory boards and professional networks;
• peer reviewed publications in the field of study; other reputable publications such as books and reports;
• leadership or management of research in relevant field/s acknowledged by peers.

4. The Subject Coordinator for each subject is available for provision of advice during the delivery of the subject.

General guidelines for assessing professional equivalence:

AQF level to be taught	Equivalence
Level 5 – Diploma	Level 7 or above is generally expected without relying on professional experience.
Level 7 - Bachelor	Level 7 qualification and current registration (if applicable) to practice within the relevant profession; Plus either: Three years relevant professional experience in the last five years; OR Study in a relevant Level 8 course or above plus some relevant professional experience, together totalling three years.
Level 8 - Honours, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas	Level 8 qualification and current registration (if applicable) to practice within the relevant profession; Plus either: Three years relevant professional experience in the last five years; OR Study in a relevant Level 9 course or above, plus some relevant professional experience, together totalling three years.
Level 9 - Masters by research or coursework	Level 9 qualification and current registration (if applicable) to practice within the relevant profession; Plus either: Five years relevant professional experience in the last ten years; OR Study in a relevant doctoral program plus some relevant professional experience, together totalling five years.
Level 10 - Doctorate by research or coursework	This does not allow principal supervision of a doctoral student Level 9 qualification and current registration (if applicable) to practice within the relevant profession; Plus either: A minimum of ten years FTE relevant professional experience with at least five of those years at a senior level; OR Confirmed candidature in a relevant doctoral program plus some relevant professional experience together totalling ten years.

Responsible for implementation

Deputy Vice President - Faculty

Key stakeholders

Whole of AC

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Procedures

HE Faculty Register Procedure

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