Office of Institutional Effectiveness
The Best Place To Start
Standing Committee Improvement Report For 2014-2015
In accordance with College Procedure 2.01.01.14, Committees, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, each May, requests the chairs of the College’s standing
committees to submit the Annual Standing Committee Chairs’ Year-End Improvement Report to inform the President of the College concerning the decisions and
effectiveness of the standing committees. The data are used to create this Standing Committee Improvement Report, which is available on the College web site:
http://www.epcc.edu/InstitutionalEffectiveness/Pages/StandingCommitteeImprovementReportbyCommittee.aspx.
FACULTY CREDENTIALS REVIEW COMMITTEE
CHARGE: To review transcripts of Faculty graduate work to update the College Summary of Qualifications document.
Academic
Year
I. Response to last Year’s Chair’s recommended Plan
of Action
II. Recommendations and Receiving
Administrator(s)
III. Recommended Plan of Action (e.g. Objectives) for
the Committee during the next Academic Year
2014-2015
Over the summer, the committee chair had the opportunity to
review documents and become familiar with making memos for
candidate support to the Vice President of Instruction. Over the
2014-2015 committee year, the committee members have had the
opportunity to review 2 packets and have held 3 meetings. The
first packet came early in the year and required the committee to
act quickly in scheduling a meeting early in the
semester. Committee members responded and participated in the
review process. The committee worked well as a team and had
input in committee decisions. Members learned the importance of
what is required for credentialing candidates, what should be
included in letters of recommendation, as well as needed
information to make a strong packet. One memo was written to the
Vice President of Instruction in support for a candidate seeking
credentialing for teaching in a discipline. The committee took time
to look at the current forms and make recommendations for any
changes. At the last meeting of the year, the committee decided no
changes were necessary to the existing forms at this time. Overall
the forms include documents needed and required to support the
candidate for credential approval by committee to send to the Vice
President of Instruction.
In the past year, committee members became more familiar with
the process and came up with good questions for Deans and
Coordinators in representing their candidates for review and
approval by the committee. The members learned the
importance of Syllabi and clarifying what is written in
representation of the course and what is required. Letter written
to send out to Deans and Coordinators informing of the process
and what is needed for packet review and where the packets
need to be sent in order to facilitate the review process.
1. Orient new FCRC chairperson to duties and facilitate review of
packets that come for committee consideration.
2. Initiate letters to Deans and Coordinators informing them about
FCRC process and required documentation for packets.
3. Educate Deans and Coordinators about importance of making
packets available to all campuses for members to review prior
to committee meetings.
2013-2014
Although the committee only reviewed a few packets early within
the academic year, an improved level of quality was evidenced by
increased input and expanded support of the candidates by both
the discipline and administrative memos. In an effort to better
support and inform the incoming chair of the committee, we chose
to vote on a chair-elect for the next academic year. This change
will benefit the committee by allowing an exchange of information
on the role and responsibilities of this position during the summer
months. It will also give the incoming chair an opportunity to review
files to become better familiarized with the history of this
The committee did not note any new accomplishments other
than the decision to vote on a chair-elect.
It is recommended that a thorough review of the Checklist Form
used to evaluate candidates for credentialing be made. The form
needs to be expanded to allow for more input on each
candidate. The committee would like to express more specific
details on candidates in an effort to better support its role of
credentialing faculty.
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
H:RS/Reports2014-2015/2014-2015CmteChairsAnnualImprovementRptFacultyCredentials.docx
EPCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
8/19/15
Page 1 of 3
Academic
Year
I. Response to last Year’s Chair’s recommended Plan
of Action
II. Recommendations and Receiving
Administrator(s)
III. Recommended Plan of Action (e.g. Objectives) for
the Committee during the next Academic Year
committee.
2012-2013
A meeting was scheduled early in the fall semester to help orient
new members to the role and process of this committee within the
College. It was extremely beneficial to have an experienced Dean
with a thorough knowledge of College policies and procedures as
an advisor throughout the year. The idea of a forum for lessons
learned was not formally pursued; however, the committee openly
discussed reoccurring issues concerning its role in the credentialing
of faculty and the need for supervising Deans of future faculty to
thoroughly scrutinize each packet submitted for committee review.
There were issues with destination points for packets to some of
the campuses, especially getting packets over to the ASC. With
occasional changes in Campus Deans, it is important that the
packets’ destination and the associated confidentiality of these
packets be reiterated each academic year amongst leadership.
It is important to stress continuity within each packet and new
committee members need to be fully informed as to the evaluation
process and its importance for the hiring of faculty early in their
terms. I recommend developing a short list of additional
responsibilities required of the chair of this committee to guide the
next incoming chair.
2011-2012
Workshops were presented at the commencement of the Fall 2011
semester to expand District awareness of the FCRC charge and
process. The committee provided copies of all standard templates
used in the process to the FCRC members and also to the VP's,
Deans and staff who were new to the credentialing process.
The FCRC expanded its process and scope beyond the
traditional academic boundaries through the review of trade and
journeyman candidates and programs that are supported by the
Advanced Technology Center of the College. This venture into
a new area went very smoothly and was largely due to the
excellent training and experience that FCRC members
possessed. The committee also added an additional
distribution point for the packets (Ms. Yolanda Ahner's office,
Vice-President of Workforce/Economic Development and
Continuing Education) to accommodate FCRC members
assigned to the ASC. The FCRC implemented an intra-campus
system for the efficient review of packets at locations where
multiple members are assigned.
For the FCRC to continue its efficient operations, it is imperative
that the membership be staggered in a balanced way to include
experienced members along with a cadre of new members. This
way, the experienced core can more easily mentor new members
in real time and the proper knowledge gets passed on with
minimal disruption. Having the same Dean as advisor on
technical issues/policies works very well and should be retained
at all costs. The FCRC might consider having a "lessons learned"
forum and report on the last meeting of the academic year to
identify problem areas and solicit solutions from the membership
for future application.
2010-2011
Developed an educational presentation to provide new and existing
members with information on how the committee works. The first
presentation will be held during Faculty Development Week, Fall
2011.
Committee met on as-needed bases in order to meet the
College policy on the reviewing of packets. Dr. Mitchell provided
excellent leadership and guidance to the committee chair and
committee.
Continue to improve on the Educational Presentation and expand
the attendees to include the Deans. The committee should
consider the formulation of a packet template so that all
information is readily identifiable and located. Dean Mathis has
format in place for packets coming from his area that is worth
looking into. Continue to work within the policies and procedures
set forth. This committee provides a vital service to the College
and its members are dedicated to this institution. Continue the
dialogue with Dr. Mitchell and continue to recommend changes or
revisions to the policies and procedures.
2009-2010
[Not requested]
Continue the policy of sending candidate packets to the office of
each campus dean about a week in advance of credentialing
meetings. This allows FCRC members at each campus to
review the packets in advance, thus saving a lot of time at the
meetings.
The FCRC has become, for the most part, a most efficient
committee. The members are dedicated to the objectives of the
committee and will not automatically “rubber stamp” credentialing
candidates just for the sake of convenience. The members
diligently review candidate packets forming questions and
opinions as they pore over the information that is provided. They
bring their views to the committee meetings with each member
seemingly able to focus on different aspects of the candidates
that other members might not necessarily discover. This allows
the committee to form a fairly complete picture of each
Continue the policy of having the Administrative Liaison, Dean
Paula Mitchell, remind all of the deans about the FCRC
procedures, and what the credentialing packets need to contain.
Dean Claude Mathis and his staff have turned assembling
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
H:RS/Reports2014-2015/2014-2015CmteChairsAnnualImprovementRptFacultyCredentials.docx
EPCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
8/19/15
Page 2 of 3
Academic
Year
I. Response to last Year’s Chair’s recommended Plan
of Action
II. Recommendations and Receiving
Administrator(s)
credentialing packets into an art form. The best packets the
committee receives are from Dean Mathis’s office, and he and
his staff should be commended for this. I have thanked him
several times for his efforts at vastly improving the packets and
how they are presented.
III. Recommended Plan of Action (e.g. Objectives) for
the Committee during the next Academic Year
credentialing candidate. My recommended plan of action, as
outgoing committee chair, is for the committee to keep up the
excellent work and dedication to this important aspect of EPCC.
Continue the policy, instituted this year, of having the committee
chair send committee reports to Dean Mitchell for her
suggestions, if any, before sending the reports to Vice President
Brown.
Perhaps the new committee chair could meet with new
committee members separately and early in the new semester
before reviewing any packets and explain what the committee is,
its purpose, how the packets are arranged, what to look for in
the packets, and any other information the chair deems
pertinent.
2008-2009
[Not requested]
Last year, I suggested more communications between the
committee chair and Dean Paula Mitchell (the Administrative
Liaison) and VP Dennis Brown. This was accomplished to an
extent as there was more communication than before. It would
be nice to know exactly what VP Brown would like to see in the
committee’s recommendation reports. I got the impression he
wanted more details, so I included more details. But on one
report he wanted some detail removed. I mentioned this to
Dean Mitchell, and she told why she believed the request was
made. Her idea made perfect sense.
When the committee makes a recommendation regarding a
credentialing candidate, the recommendation is passed on to VP
Brown. He then makes a decision to approve or disapprove the
committee’s recommendation and notifies the appropriate
dean. Sometimes, I get calls from the office of the dean asking
if the committee made a recommendation and sent it on to VP
Brown. When I reply that this was done, I am then told they
have not heard from VP Brown. This is sometimes several
months later. It is my recommendation that VP Brown notify the
deans in a more timely manner.
Since there are 16 members of the committee, it is very difficult to
find a meeting day and time when everyone can attend. At the
beginning of each semester, I ask the members to send me their
schedules. I look over them and then pick a day and time when
most members can attend. Spring 2009 was particularly bad as,
no matter what day or time, about the maximum number of
members who could come was about 9. A big problem with
scheduling is those members who are in the sciences and have
labs. Their labs usually meet in the afternoons which are the best
time for our meetings. Since no one cares to meet on Saturdays,
Sundays, or in the evening, this will, I suspect, continue to be a
problem.
2007-2008
[Not requested]
To Dr. Dennis Brown and Dr. Paula Mitchell:
Continue to make things more efficient for the committee
members, such as making candidate packets available at all
campuses so that everyone can review them prior to a meeting.
 The recommendation form sent by the committee to VP Brown
might need to be updated.
To Dr. Dennis Brown and all deans:
 The committee should always have at least one week to
review candidate packets before meeting.
To Dr. Dennis Brown and Dr. Paula Mitchell:
Perhaps the committee chair, Dean Mitchell, and VP Brown
could meet from time to time to review committee matters.
2006-2007
[Not requested]
[None submitted]
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Develop sample packets to share with deans so that the packets
presented by candidates are laid out more clearly and illustrate
the issues and criteria set out in the College procedures.
H:RS/Reports2014-2015/2014-2015CmteChairsAnnualImprovementRptFacultyCredentials.docx
EPCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
8/19/15
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