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Office of Institutional Accreditation, Program Development, and Analysis Division of Academic Affairs

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Office of Institutional Accreditation, Program Development, and Analysis
Marialice Shary Shivers, EMASS, 3.102
Email: accreditation@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-4025

Quick Links

  • SACSCOC
  • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  • The University of Texas System
  • UTRGV SACSCOC Accreditation Statement

Faculty Credentialing

In compliance with SACSCOC standards, UTRGV documents the qualifications of its teaching faculty on an on-going basis. It is the policy of the University to ensure that all teaching faculty (i.e., instructors of record) possess the academic preparation, training, and experience to teach in an academic setting. This policy applies to all full and part-time faculty, tenured and tenure-track faculty, clinical instructors, visiting instructors, volunteer instructors, graduate teaching assistants, graduate assistant instructors, and graduate associate instructors regardless of the location or delivery format.

  • SACSCOC Faculty Credentials Guidelines
  • Online Teaching Validation Portal

 


Faculty Credentialing Process Workflow

process workflow chart


Faculty Credentialing FAQs

What is faculty credentialing?

Faculty credentialing is the process of verifying that instructors possess the appropriate academic qualifications and professional experience to teach specific courses, in compliance with institutional and accreditation standards.

Why is faculty credentialing important?

Faculty credentialing ensures compliance with SACSCOC accreditation requirements as well as specialized accreditors. It supports the academic integrity of UTRGV programs by confirming that faculty possess the appropriate qualifications to teach assigned courses.

What documents are required for credentialing?

Typically, the following documents are needed:

  • Official transcripts from all degrees earned
  • Current curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Written justification for faculty teaching outside their degree field
  • Certifications or licenses (if applicable)

Who is responsible for submitting credentialing documents?

Faculty members are responsible for providing the required documentation. Department chairs or the college dean’s office may assist in collecting and submitting materials to OIA.

What qualifies a faculty member to teach a course?

Qualifications are based on:

  • Academic degrees in the teaching discipline
  • Professional experience relevant to the course
  • Certifications or licensure (if required)
  • Approved justification of qualifications for exceptions

What academic degrees are required for faculty credentialing?

Faculty must hold academic degrees appropriate to the teaching discipline.

OIA recommends that faculty submit documentation for their two highest degrees to provide a comprehensive academic profile. However, this is not limited to only two degrees—faculty are encouraged to include all degrees, especially those relevant to the courses being taught, to fully support their qualifications and meet accreditation standards.

What is an official transcript or official foreign evaluation?

An official transcript is a certified academic record sent directly from the issuing institution to a UTRGV office, either digitally through secure platforms or physically in a sealed envelope.

An official foreign evaluation is a detailed course-by-course credential assessment of international academic records, conducted by a recognized evaluation agency, and must also be sent directly to UTRGV to be considered official.

All instructors of record are required to provide either an official transcript or an official detailed course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation completed by an approved credentials review agency.

Who are the approved foreign credential evaluators?

Foreign academic records must be evaluated by an agency that is either:

  • A member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) https://naces.org/members/
  • Or listed on the UTRGV Foreign Credential Evaluation webpage https://www.utrgv.edu/admissions/graduate/resources/foreign-credential-evaluation/index.htm

These are the recommended evaluators. While other agencies may be used, their evaluations are not guaranteed to be accepted and may require additional review or documentation.

What is the difference between a foreign evaluation overall summary and a course-by-course evaluation?

An overall summary evaluation provides a general equivalency of a foreign degree (e.g., “equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree”), without detailing individual coursework. A course-by-course evaluation includes a breakdown of each course taken, with U.S. credit hour equivalencies and grades.

Course-by-course evaluations are required for credentialing to verify that the faculty member has completed coursework relevant to the teaching discipline.

How often do faculty need to be re-credentialed?

Credentialing is reviewed at hiring, when teaching new courses, and during internal audits or accreditation reviews.

What happens if a faculty member is not credentialed for a course?

They may not be assigned to teach the course until credentials documentation is submitted and approved. If a faculty member is not approved for a course, they may not teach the course.

Can professional experience substitute for academic qualifications?

Yes, in some cases. A written justification must be submitted demonstrating how the experience aligns with course content and learning outcomes. These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with institutional and accreditor standards.

How are credentials evaluated?

Credentials are reviewed by OIA in collaboration with academic departments/colleges, following SACSCOC guidelines, institutional policy, and the requirements of applicable specialized accreditors. This ensures that faculty qualifications meet both general and discipline-specific standards.

Where can I get help with the credentialing process?

Contact your department’s credentialing initiator or OIA to guide you through the process and ensure all documentation is complete. (SACSCOC Qualifications Portal Initiator Contacts)



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