Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-21.62

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 10, November 13, 2024

Rule 281-21.62 - [Effective 11/6/2024] Accreditation components and criteria-additional state standards

To be granted accreditation by the state board of education, an Iowa community college will also meet additional standards pertaining to minimum or quality assurance standards for faculty (Iowa Code section 260C.48(1)); faculty load (Iowa Code section 260C.48(2)); special needs and protected classes (Iowa Code section 260C.48(3)); career and technical education program evaluation (Iowa Code section 256.130(7)); facilities, parking lots and roads; strategic planning; quality faculty plan (Iowa Code section 260C.36); senior year plus programs (Iowa Code chapter 261E); as well as any other items referenced in this chapter.

(1)Faculty.

a. Community college-employed instructors who teach college credit courses shall meet minimum standards and institutional quality faculty plan requirements. Standards will at a minimum require that all community college instructors meet the following requirements:

(1) Instructors teaching courses in the area of career and technical education will be registered, certified, or licensed in the occupational area in which the state requires registration, certification, or licensure and shall meet at least one of the following qualifications:

1. Possess a baccalaureate degree or higher in the field of instruction in which the instructor teaches classes, or possess a baccalaureate degree in any area of study if at least 18 of the credit hours completed were in the career and technical field of instruction in which the instructor teaches classes.

2. Possess an associate degree in the career and technical education field of instruction in which the instructor is teaching, if such degree is considered terminal for that field of instruction, and have at least 3,000 hours of recent and relevant work experience in the occupational area or related occupational area in which the instructor teaches classes.

3. Have special training and at least 6,000 hours of relevant tested experience in the occupational area or related occupational area in which the instructor teaches classes if the instructor possesses less than a baccalaureate degree in the area or related area of study or occupational area in which the instructor is teaching classes and the instructor does not meet the requirements of subparagraph 21.62(1)"a"(2).

(2) For purposes of numbered paragraphs 21.62(1)"a"(1)"2" and "3," if the instructor is a licensed practitioner who holds a career and technical endorsement under Iowa Code chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, relevant work experience in the occupational area includes, but is not limited to, classroom instruction in a career and technical education subject area offered by a school district or accredited nonpublic school.

(3) Instructors in the area of arts and sciences shall meet the following qualifications set forth in Iowa Code section 260C.48.

b. For courses identified as applied liberal arts and sciences, possess at least a bachelor's degree and a combination of formal training and professional tested experience equivalent to 6,000 hours. The instructor shall hold the appropriate registration, certification, or licensure in occupational areas in which such credential is necessary for practice.

c. Developmental education and noncredit instructors are not subject to standards under this subrule.

d. Adult education instructors will meet the minimum standards set forth in 877-Chapter 32.

Instructional staff providing instruction in an adult education and literacy program to students must possess at minimum a bachelor's degree.

e. A faculty standards council will be convened by the department to review procedures for establishing and reviewing minimum instructor qualifications and definitions for "field of instruction," "applied liberal arts and sciences courses," "qualifying graduate field or major," and "relevant tested experience." Definitions will be based on accepted practices of regionally accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

(1) The council will include faculty and academic administrators and meet at least annually. The council will make recommendations to a committee consisting of the chief academic officers of Iowa's 15 community colleges. The committee will adopt definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards to be utilized for the state accreditation process. Each community college will adhere to the adopted definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards.

(2) When utilizing relevant tested experience to qualify an instructor to teach classes within a specific field of instruction, each community college will maintain well-defined policies, procedures, and documentation in alignment with the adopted definitions and minimum faculty qualification standards. This documentation will demonstrate that the instructor possesses the experience and expertise necessary to teach in the specified field of instruction and is current in the instructor's discipline. When tested experience is assessed, an hour of relevant work is equal to 60 minutes and one full-time year of relevant work is equal to 2,000 hours.

f. Volunteer staff will possess at minimum a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma.

(2)Faculty load.

a.Arts and sciences. The full-time teaching load of an instructor in arts and sciences courses will be 15 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent and will not exceed a maximum of 16 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent. An instructor may also have an additional teaching assignment beyond the maximum academic workload, provided the instructor and the community college administration mutually consent to this additional assignment and the total workload does not exceed the equivalent of 22 credit hours within a traditional semester or the equivalent.

b.Career and technical education. The full-time teaching load of an instructor in career and technical education programs will not exceed an aggregate of 30 hours per week or the equivalent. An instructor may also teach the equivalent of an additional three credit hours, provided the instructor consents to this additional assignment. When the teaching assignment includes classroom subjects (nonlaboratory), consideration will be given to establishing the teaching load more in conformity with that of paragraph 21.62(2)"a."

(3)Special needs and protected classes. Community colleges shall provide equal access to the full range of program offerings and services including recruitment, enrollment, and placement activities for students with special education needs or protected by state or federal civil rights regulations. Students with disabilities shall be given access to the full range of program offerings at a college through reasonable accommodations.

(4)Career and technical education evaluation. The director of the department shall ensure that Iowa's community colleges annually review at least 20 percent of approved career and technical education programs. The community college career and technical program review and evaluation system must ensure that the programs meet requirements as specified in 281-Chapter 46.

(5)Facilities, parking lots and roads.

a.Facilities master planning. Each community college shall present evidence of adequate planning, including a board-approved facilities plan. Planning includes tentative program approval, a master campus plan, written educational specifications, site plot showing location of proposed and existing facilities, elevations and floor plans.

b.Accessibility and safety. All new or remodeled facilities (buildings and programs offered in such facilities) and services in such facilities shall be made functional and usable for persons with special needs, comply with Iowa Code chapter 104A and the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, and address issues of campus safety and security as required by Iowa Code chapter 260C and by the federal Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f). All parking areas and roads will comply with all state and federal rules and regulations dealing with roads, parking ramps, and accessibility requirements.

c.Adequate facilities. All administrative facilities, classrooms, laboratories, and related facilities will be educationally adequate for the purpose for which they are designed.

d.Library or learning resource center. A library or learning resource center will be planned as part of the master campus plan and space made for library or learning resource center services within the initial construction.

(1) Facilities. Community college libraries or learning resource centers shall provide the facilities and resources needed to support the total educational program of the institution and shall show evidence that the facilities and the resources are being used effectively and efficiently. Adequate consideration shall be given to the seating, comfort, setting, and technology of the facility used to house the collection and learning resources.

(2) Staffing. The library or learning resource center will be adequately staffed with qualified professionals and skilled nonprofessional personnel.

(3) Collection. The library and learning resource center materials collection of a community college shall be accessible and adequate in size and scope to serve effectively the number and variety of programs offered and the number of students enrolled, including distance and satellite sites. The library and learning resource center materials collection will show evidence of having been selected by faculty as well as professional library or learning resource staff and shall be kept up to date through a planned program of acquisition and deletion. The library and learning resource center materials collection will contain a range and number of print and nonprint materials and appropriate electronic information resources.

(4) Expenditures. The budget of the library or learning resource center will be appropriate for the programs and services offered by the institution. New programs and new curricula will be reflected in library or learning resource center expenditures.

e.Student center. An area of the college will be provided where students may gather informally and where food is available.

f.Laboratories, equipment and supplies. Laboratories, equipment and supplies will be comparable with those used in the occupations for which instruction is offered. Similarly, college parallel or transfer courses will be supported in a manner comparable to those conditions that prevail in standard, regionally accredited colleges and universities to which students may wish to transfer college credits.

g.Physical plant. The site, buildings and equipment of the community college will be well maintained and in good condition. At a minimum, a five-year ongoing, systematic maintenance and facilities plan approved by the local community college board will be in evidence. The physical plant will be adequate in size and properly equipped for the program offered. All remodeling of existing facilities will comply with Iowa Code chapter 104A and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

(6)Strategic planning. At a minimum, the community college will prepare a high-quality, board-approved strategic plan at least once every five years, and that plan will be effectively implemented to guide the college and its decision-making.

(7)Quality faculty plan. The community college will establish a quality faculty committee consisting of instructors and administrators to develop and maintain a plan for hiring and developing quality faculty. The committee will have equal representatives of arts and sciences and career and technical faculty with no more than a simple majority of members of the same gender. Faculty will be appointed by the certified employee organization representing faculty, if any, and administrators will be appointed by the college's administration. If no faculty-certified employee organization representing faculty exists, the faculty will be appointed by administration pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.48(4). The committee will submit the plan to the board of directors for consideration, approval and submittal to the department. Standards relating to quality assurance of faculty and ongoing quality professional development will be the accreditation standards of similar accredited institutions of higher education that are consistent with the standards established pursuant to this rule and the faculty standards required under specific programs offered by the community college that are accredited by other accrediting agencies. For purposes of this subrule, "accredited" means that an institution of higher education meets the standards established by an accrediting agency recognized under 34 CFR Part 602 and by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, Pub. L. N o. 110 -315.

a. For purposes of this subrule, the following definitions apply:

"Counselor" means those who are classified as counselors as defined in the college's collective bargaining agreement or written policy.

"Media specialist" means those who are classified as media specialists as defined in the college's collective bargaining agreement or written policy.

b. The institutional quality faculty plan is applicable to all community college-employed faculty teaching college credit courses, counselors, and media specialists. The plan requirements may be differentiated for each type of employee. The plan will include, at a minimum, each of the following components:

(1) Plan maintenance. The quality faculty committee will submit proposed plan modifications to the board of directors for consideration and approval. It is recommended that the plan be updated at least annually.

(2) A determination of the faculty and staff to be included in the plan, including all instructors teaching college credit courses, counselors, and media specialists.

(3) Orientation for new faculty. It is recommended that new faculty orientation be initiated within six months from the hiring date. It is recommended that the orientation of new faculty be flexible to meet current and future needs and provide options other than structured college courses for faculty to improve teaching strategies, curriculum development and evaluation strategies. It is recommended that the college consider developing a faculty mentoring program.

(4) Continuing professional development for faculty. It is recommended that the plan clearly specify required components including time frame for continuing professional development for faculty. It is recommended that the plan include the number of hours, courses, workshops, professional and academic conferences or other experiences, such as industry internships, cooperatives and exchange programs that faculty may use for continuing professional development. It is recommended that the plan include prescribed and elective topics, such as discipline-specific content and educational trends and research. Examples of topics that may be considered include dealing with the complexities of learners, skills in teaching adults, curriculum development, assessment, evaluation, enhancing students' retention and success, reaching nontraditional and minority students, improving skills in implementing technology and applied learning, leadership development, and issues unique to a particular college. The institutional quality faculty plan will include continuing professional development components for all instructional staff, counselors, and media specialists, and may include reciprocity features that facilitate movement from one college to another.

(5) Procedures for accurate record keeping and documentation for plan monitoring. It is recommended that the plan identify the college officials or administrators responsible for the administration, record keeping and ongoing evaluation and monitoring of the plan. It is recommended the plan monitoring, evidence collected, and records maintained showing implementation of the plan be comprehensive in scope. It is recommended that the plan provide for the documentation that each faculty member appropriately possesses, attains or progresses toward attaining minimum competencies.

(6) Consortium arrangements where appropriate, cost-effective and mutually beneficial. It is recommended that the plan provide an outline of existing and potential consortium arrangements including a description of the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and method of evaluating consortium services.

(7) Specific activities that ensure that faculty attain and demonstrate instructional competencies and knowledge in their subject or technical areas. It is recommended that the plan identify faculty minimum competencies and explain the method or methods of determining and assessing competencies. It is recommended that the plan contain procedures for reporting faculty progress. It is recommended that faculty be notified at least once a year of their progress in attaining competencies.

(8) Procedures for collection and maintenance of records demonstrating that each faculty member has attained or documented progress toward attaining minimum competencies. It is recommended that the plan specify data collection procedures that demonstrate how each faculty member has attained or has documented progress toward attaining minimum competencies.

c. Compliance with the faculty accreditation standards of similar accredited institutions of higher education that are consistent with the standards established pursuant to Iowa Code section 260C.48 and with faculty standards required under specific programs offered by the community college that are accredited by other accrediting agencies. For purposes of this paragraph, "accredited" means that an institution of higher education meets the standards established by an accrediting agency recognized under 34 CFR Part 602 and by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, Pub. L. N o. 110 -315.

d. The department will review the plan during the state accreditation evaluations to ensure each community college's compliance and progress in implementing a quality faculty plan as approved by the local board of directors. The department shall review the following:

(1) Documents submitted by the college that demonstrate that the plan includes each component required by paragraph 21.62(7)"b."

(2) Documentation submitted by the college that the board of directors approved the plan.

(3) Documentation submitted by the college that the college is implementing the approved plan, including evidence of plan monitoring, evaluation and updating; evidence that the faculty has met minimum requirements of the quality faculty plan contained in Iowa Code section 260C.48; and evidence that faculty members have been notified of their progress toward attaining minimum requirements.

(4) Documentation that the college administration encourages the continued development of faculty potential as defined in Iowa Code section 260C.36.

(5) Documentation of the human resources report submitted by the college through the department's community college management information system.

(8)Senior year plus. The community college shall provide access to joint enrollment opportunities for high school age students. Each college will comply with the appropriate standards defined in Iowa Code chapter 261E.

(9)Student services. A program of student services will be provided to meet the needs of students in the community college. The program of student services, at a minimum, will include the following functional areas:

a. Orientation to college and career opportunities and requirements.

b. Appraisal of individual potential.

c. Consultation with students about their plans, progress and problems.

d. Participation of students in activities that supplement classroom experiences.

e. Regulation to provide an optimal climate for social and academic development.

f. Services that facilitate community college attendance through a program of financial assistance, and facilitate transition to further education or employment.

g. Organization that provides for continuing articulation, evaluation and improvement of the student services program.

h. Campus safety and security as required by Iowa Code chapter 260C and the federal Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), 34 CFR Section 668.46.

(10)Effective dates of federal law. All references to federal law in this rule are to those versions in effect on February 7, 2024.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-21.62

Rescinded IAB 4/7/10, effective 5/12/10.

Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024

Amended by IAB October 2, 2024/Volume XLVII, Number 6, effective 11/6/2024