FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Memorandum Number 06-09
March 17, 2006
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
Community College Presidents
FROM:
J. David Armstrong, Jr.
SUBJECT:
Process for Seamless Articulation and Transfer of Credits
On March 1, 2006, the Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education (DCCWE) sponsored
a very productive meeting in Tallahassee with Dr. Belle Wheelan, President, Commission on Colleges of
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and Dr. Gary Puckett, Executive
Director/President of the Council on Occupational Education (COE). The purpose of the meeting was to
discuss and compare accreditation standards of those two organizations, particularly as they apply to
faculty credentials. At issue is the development of a process for more seamless articulation and transfer
of credits between Florida technical centers and public community colleges in regard to postsecondary
adult vocational coursework and associate degree programs. Our goal, in keeping with the
recommendations of last year’s Career Education Task Force (chaired by Lt. Governor Toni Jennings),
and with Strategic Imperative #4 (Increase the quantity and improve the quality of education options), is
to facilitate the development of a pipeline which would enable students to progress toward their
educational goals without unnecessary roadblocks, while at the same time preserving standards for
necessary and appropriate learning outcomes.
During the meeting, Dr. Wheelan repeatedly pointed out that three years ago SACS reworded Principles
of Accreditation, Standard 3.7.1, to provide postsecondary institutions with more flexibility and control in
determining faculty credentials. No longer are colleges “required” to employ only those faculty who hold
a “Master’s degree plus a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline” for teaching
associate degree courses designed for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs. This level of
professional preparation is considered one of several credential options, and is listed as such under 3.7.1
as a Credential
Guideline,
along with several others including “competence,” “effectiveness,” “related
J. DAVID ARMSTRONG, JR.
Chancellor, Community Colleges and Workforce Education
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1314 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0407 • www.fldoe.org/cc
Memorandum Number 06-09
Page Two
March 17, 2006
work experiences in the field,” and “professional licensure.” Institutions need to carefully review current
SACS standards in regard to faculty credentials, and to be aware that SACS has placed the responsibility
for determining acceptable qualifications upon the institution. As noted in 3.7.1, “For all cases, the
institution is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of its faculty.”
Dr. Wheelen, per direction of the Commission on Colleges, will be generating a memo to postsecondary
institutions confirming this interpretation, and bringing it to the attention of visiting review committees in
the near future. As we move forward to forge more seamless articulation measures and expand
opportunities for career education students, this clarification regarding faculty credentials will make the
work of converting postsecondary adult vocational credit into educational units creditable toward degree
programs much more manageable. The Division will continue to keep you apprised of developments in
this arena. If you have further questions regarding this issue, please contact Dr. Judy Bilsky, Vice
Chancellor for Academic and Student Success, at (850) 245-9452, or Dr. Bonnie Marmor, Vice
Chancellor for Workforce Education, at (850)245-9469.
JDA/jbh
c:
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Judith Bilsky
Bonnie Marmor
Stacey Webb
