Instructor of Record Policy

AUDIENCE

All faculty and staff teaching or responsible for academic courses.

PURPOSE

Thomas More University ensures that all faculty have the appropriate credentials necessary to provide our students with a high quality education. The university documents the qualifications of instructors consistent with the Principles of Accreditation established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education licensing guidelines, specialized accreditation agencies as applicable, and Thomas More University policy.

DEFINITIONS

Instructor of Record - The instructor of record is determined by individual responsibilities within a specific course. The instructor of record:

• has overall responsibility for the course, including:
  • design and implementation of the course
  • ongoing instruction and day-to-day delivery of the course
  • submission of the final grades according to deadlines established by the Office of the Registrar
  • student complaints and grievances associated with the course
• will be evaluated by students in the course and by the academic department offering the course according to University policy and procedure for teaching evaluation

THE POLICY

The instructor of record is listed as the primary instructor for a course. In the case of team-taught courses, multiple instructors who share the responsibilities for the course may be listed. Teaching assistants may participate in delivery of instruction, but the instructor of record must maintain primary responsibility and oversight of the course.

The instructor of record must be appropriately credentialed to teach the course, according to SACSCOC guidelines, Kentucky license requirements, and Thomas More University policy.

All courses must have an assigned Instructor of Record before the course begins.

Notable exceptions to situations where the instructor of record may maintain overall responsibility for the course without continuous presence or ongoing instruction include

• undergraduate laboratories in which teaching assistants may participate in supervision
• clinical instruction that is (1) supervised by persons experienced in the discipline and (2) focuses on application of concepts and principles in the field
• field supervision of student teaching, internships, cooperative education, and other experiential learning supervised by persons experienced in the discipline
• other situations that (1) the department can demonstrate and document as educationally sound and (2) have received approval of the respective College Dean and Provost

Except as noted above, it is not acceptable for an individual to be listed as the instructor of record while another individual, even when listed as a secondary instructor, carries out the duties of a primary instructor. This policy applies to all courses offered for Thomas More University credit and entered on student transcripts as Thomas More University courses, regardless of location or mode of delivery.

RELATED POLICIES AND APPLICABLE LEGAL OR ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges, Faculty Credential Policy, http://sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/faculty%20credentials.pdf

13 KAR 1:020 Section 8(5)(d)

Specialized accreditation agencies, applicable for specific disciplines

Thomas More University Faculty Qualifications Policy, as outlined in the Faculty Policy Manual

PROCEDURES

Department Chairs submit the instructor of record for each course to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Registrar. Department Chairs are responsible for ensuring the instructor of record is the primary instructor.

REFERENCING THE POLICY

None

HISTORY

APPENDIX

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APPROVALS

Dr. Cari Garriga, Acting Provost