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The August, 2002 edition of the MnSCU Licensure Guidelines provides further clarification of the licensure process as directed by Minnesota Statutes section 136F.49, Board Policy 3.9, and Procedure 3.9.1. The green colored text portions of the Guidelines denote the revised portions of the August, 2002 edition.
Please note that changes in the MnSCU Licensure Guidelines are expected to occur periodically; we recommend that you consult this website whenever needing information regarding the licensure process and forms.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. DEFINITIONS
II. LICENSE FIELDS
B. ELIMINATION OF LICENSE FIELDS
III. LICENSES
A. FULL-TIME APPOINTMENT STATUS
B. PART-TIME APPOINTMENT STATUS
A. OVERVIEW OF LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
VI. COMMITTEE REVIEW
A. COMMITTEE REVIEW ELIGIBILITY
B. REVIEW COMMITTEE AND PROCEDURE
VII. LICENSE RENEWAL
A. RATIONALE FOR LICENSE RENEWAL
B. LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME FACULTY
D. LOCAL RENEWAL COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY
E. RELATIONSHIP OF LICENSE RENEWAL TO SABBATICAL LEAVE
F. FEES
G. RENEWAL ACTIVITY COMPETENCIES CHART
VIII. SPECIAL LICENSES
B. FACULTY MEMBERS ON UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A. RETIRED FACULTY MEMBERS OFFERED RE-EMPLOYMENT WITHIN TWO (2) YEARS OF RETIREMENT
B. RETIRED FACULTY MEMBERS OFFERED RE-EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING TWO (2) YEARS OF RETIREMENT
XI. TERMINATION, REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION
A. TERMINATION
XII. ACCOUNTABILITY / LICENSURE COMPLIANCE
B. COMPLIANCE
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 2.]
A. AUTHORIZED ADMINISTRATOR: An administrator at a MnSCU college or a Minnesota private vocational entity outside the MnSCU system who has been authorized to sign faculty applications for licensure.
1. Each president or designee has responsibility for appointing the authorized administrator(s) responsible for faculty license issues.
2. The Authorized Administrator Designation Form is sent annually to each college requiring the president or designee to verify the name(s) of the college's authorized administrator(s).
3. The authorized administrator is responsible for signing all applications for licensure, verifying the applicant is currently employed or has an offer of employment from the college or non-MnSCU vocational technical entity and recommending the applicant for the designated license(s).
4. The authorized administrator is responsible for overseeing all licensure procedures at the college.
B. LICENSURE: A process for determining that the individual meets the minimum qualifications required for a license; the condition of being licensed.
C. LICENSOR: The Board of Trustees is the legally authorized organization having the authority to conduct licensure processes and grant or deny permission to be employed in a license field, as set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 136F.49.
D. LICENSE: A document indicating that the individual meets the minimum qualifications for a license field and is authorized to be employed in that license field.
1. The license authorizes the faculty member to be employed only in areas that are specifically related to that license field, as designated in the MnSCU Licensure Guidelines.
2. The license becomes valid on the date of approval by the MnSCU Licensure Office.
E. LICENSE FIELD: a defined area of knowledge and skill which is specifically related to a program, service, or academic discipline.
F. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements an individual must meet to qualify for a license field. Minimum qualifications are specific to each license field and may include educational, occupational, professional and/or other requirements.
G. SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION: The MnSCU system office academic and student affairs administrative staff.
The system administration shall determine whether an existing license field is appropriate or whether to establish a new license field and minimum qualifications for a new program or area.
B. ELIMINATION OF LICENSE FIELDS
In the event that an occupational program is discontinued statewide, the license field for that program shall be eliminated if more than five (5) years has elapsed since the program closure. [However, if the license field applies to other programs in addition to the one that has been discontinued, the license field shall be retained.]
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart G.1.]
A license shall be issued by the system administration upon receipt of a completed application and determination by the system administration that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the requested license field. If a processing error results in issuance of a license to an individual who does not meet the minimum qualifications for the license field(s), the license is not valid.
A notification letter regarding licensure status shall be sent by the system administration to both the faculty member and the MnSCU college or private vocational entity outside the MnSCU system where the individual is employed.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart A.1. & 2.]
1. INITIAL LICENSES
To be eligible for initial licensure, an individual shall be currently employed in, or have an offer of employment for, a faculty position in each license field for which licensure is sought and must meet minimum qualifications for the license field(s). The faculty position must be at a MnSCU college or a Minnesota private vocational entity outside the MnSCU system.
The college is responsible for determining the need to hire an individual for an assignment requiring licensure. To be licensed, an individual must apply for an initial license(s) in the license field(s) where work is to be assigned and meet the licensure requirements.
2. ADDITIONAL LICENSES
A faculty member may seek an additional license(s) if the faculty member has employment, or an offer of employment, in an additional license field and meets the minimum qualifications for the license field(s). The faculty position must be at a MnSCU college or a Minnesota private vocational entity outside the MnSCU system.
The college is responsible for determining the need to hire an individual for an assignment requiring additional licensure. To be licensed, the faculty member must apply for an additional license(s) in the license field(s) where work is to be assigned and meet the licensure requirements.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart A.1., 2. & 3.]
1. If the assignment is teaching in a MnSCU program, that program shall have received prior approval from the MnSCU Board of Trustees.
2. No fees shall be assessed to review credentials for licensure of MnSCU faculty. As of July 1, 2000, a fee of $75.00 shall be assessed to review credentials for licensure of vocational technical instructors outside the MnSCU system.
3. Application forms for licensure are available at the college and on the MnSCU website. [See MnSCU Licensure Forms.] The applicant completes these forms and submits them to the college’s authorized administrator. Upon approval by the authorized administrator, the application materials should be forwarded to the college’s human resources manager or designee, who verifies that they are complete and sends them to the MnSCU Licensure Office. [Note: Incomplete applications or applications sent to the Licensure Office by persons other than the human resources manager or designee will be returned to the human resources manager or designee.]
a. Applications for license(s) shall include the signature of the authorized administrator, verifying the applicant has an offer of employment in the license field(s) and recommending that individual for licensure.
b. All licenses shall correspond to the faculty member's appointment status, as defined in Guidelines IV., Appointment Status. The authorized administrator shall indicate on the application form the total number of semester credits for the fiscal year. Based on this information, the Licensure Office shall designate the license(s) as full-time or part-time.
c. The applicant shall submit, with the license application, verification of meeting educational, professional, occupational and other requirements [via such documentation as official transcripts, certificates and licenses].
d. All applicants shall meet current educational and occupational experience requirements for the license field.
4. The MnSCU Licensure Office reviews completed application materials and makes a determination regarding licensure status.
a. A two-year license is issued when an individual with full-time appointment status has submitted a completed application, signed by the authorized administrator, and has met all of the designated educational, professional and occupational licensure requirements. Note: Individuals qualifying for the full-time, two-year OCCUPATIONAL OR GENERAL STUDIES license must also complete some of the Teacher Education Series [TES] requirements. Individuals qualifying for the full-time, two-year GENERAL EDUCATION license have options for meeting the teacher education requirements. See Guidelines V.B.4., Teacher Education Requirements.
b. A five-year license is issued when an individual with either part-time or full-time appointment status has submitted a completed application, signed by the authorized administrator, and has met all of the educational, professional and occupational licensure requirements. Note: Individuals qualifying for a full-time, five-year OCCUPATIONAL OR GENERAL STUDIES license must also complete all of the TES requirements. Individuals qualifying for the full-time, five-year GENERAL EDUCATION license have options for meeting the teacher education requirements. See Guidelines V.B.4., Teacher Education Requirements.
c. An applicant who does not agree with the licensure determination may request review of the determination by submitting a request for review in writing to the Licensure Office within 30 days of the date of the determination. This request shall include the specific reasons for the review and any additional documentation supporting the applicant's position.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart A.3.]
Licensure shall correspond to the faculty member's appointment status.
A. FULL-TIME APPOINTMENT STATUS
Full-time appointment status refers to unlimited full-time and probationary full-time appointments/positions. A faculty member with full-time appointment status in a position requiring a license shall be required to hold a full-time license(s) for employment in a license field(s). THIS REQUIREMENT IS BASED ON THE FACULTY MEMBER TEACHING MORE THAN 16 SEMESTER CREDITS PER FISCAL YEAR.
1. Two or more license fields: A faculty member with full-time status having assignments in two (2) or more license fields shall be required to have a full-time license in each license field(s) where employed.
2. Change in appointment status: A faculty member who has had his/her appointment status changed from full-time to part-time may retain his/her full-time license(s). However, if the faculty member chooses to hold a part-time license(s) instead of the full-time license(s), he/she must apply for the part-time license(s), which requires only the completed License Application Form, signed by the authorized administrator.
3. Recall of faculty on layoff: A faculty member with full-time appointment status who has been placed on the layoff list and who subsequently is recalled to a part-time position may retain his/her full-time license(s). However, if the faculty member chooses to hold a part-time license(s) instead of the full-time license(s), he/she must apply for the part-time license(s), which requires only the completed License Application Form, signed by the authorized administrator.
B. PART-TIME APPOINTMENT STATUS
Part-time appointment status refers to unlimited part-time, probationary part-time, temporary, and adjunct positions. A faculty member with part-time appointment status shall be required to hold either a full-time license or a part-time license(s) in each license field(s) where employed, contingent on the total number of credits assigned during a fiscal year [see below]:
1. A full-time license(s) shall be required for employment in one or more license fields if the total assignment for the year is greater than 16 semester credits per fiscal year.
2. A part-time license(s) shall be required for employment in one or more license fields if the total assignment for the year is limited to 16 semester credits or fewer per fiscal year. Note: A faculty member holding a part-time license(s) shall be required to meet the requirements for a full-time license(s) if the total assignment for the year becomes greater than 16 semester credits per fiscal year.
Licensure exemption: [Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart G.4.]
No license shall be required or granted to an individual offered employment to teach no more than three (3) semester credits or two (2) courses [not to exceed a total of three (3) semester credits] per academic year and/or during the entire summer session. It shall be the responsibility of the authorized administrator to determine that the individual meets the appropriate qualifications to teach the course(s) and to assure that these limits are not exceeded.
a. The licensure exemption does not apply to faculty members already holding a part-time or a full-time license(s).
c. The licensure exemption is applied based on the total number of semester credits taught by the faculty member at all MnSCU colleges.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Parts 1., 2., 3. & 4., Subpart F.]
A. OVERVIEW OF LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Board Policy 3.9, Licensure of Faculty Requiring a License, delegates to the chancellor authority to promulgate procedures, guidelines and processes regarding license fields and minimum qualifications.
Typically, license field requirements include the following components:
1. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
These requirements typically consist of a specified degree or number of college credits in the license field. Some license fields require only occupational experience requirements, some of which may be met via “educational substitutions”, e.g. having a specified degree or number of credits in the license field. [See MnSCU License Fields for the academic credentials required for individual license fields.]
2. OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
These requirements, which apply only to the OCCUPATIONAL AND GENERAL STUDIES license fields, consist of paid work experience, outside of education or teaching, in a job or jobs directly related to the license field. Such experience includes a “recency” requirement, whereby a specified number of hours of the work experience shall be within the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application for licensure. [See Guidelines V.B.2., Occupational Experience Requirements.] Note: Occupational experience requirements do not apply to the GENERAL EDUCATION license fields.
3. PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
These requirements, which only apply to some license fields, consist of a professional credential which is required for practice in the profession directly related to the license field. An example: The professional credential that is required for licensure in the license field of Practical Nurse is a Minnesota Registered Nurse license. [See Guidelines V.B.3., Professional Requirements.]
4. TEACHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
This requirement is only for faculty seeking the full-time, five-year license. [See Guidelines V.B.4., Teacher Education Requirements.]
B. FULL-TIME LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
a. Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the academic credentials required for individual license fields.
b. Definitions:
1) Credit conversions:
To convert quarter credits to semester credits, multiply quarter credits by .66.
To convert semester credits to quarter credits, multiply semester credits by 1.5.
2) Education degree: a baccalaureate or higher degree in education from a regionally accredited college or university.
3) Educational requirements: academic credentials / achievements, such as degrees, diplomas, certificates, courses for credit or clock hours [non-credit courses], or credit hours; may include internships or other components.
4) Equivalency: an equation of content between two (2) degrees or majors of different titles or two (2) courses, as verified by a written statement from the corresponding department chair from an institution accredited to grant a degree or major in the license field. [NOTE: the institution granting an equivalency shall be one other than the hiring institution.]
5) Vocational education degree: a baccalaureate or higher degree in vocational education from a regionally accredited college or university.
6) Vocational Teacher Education Series (TES): the vocational teacher education core required for issuance of a full-time, five-year occupational or general studies license.
Forms: General Education Graduate Courses Listing Form
Degree Equivalency Verification Form
Course Equivalency Verification Form
2. OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
a. OCCUPATIONAL AND GENERAL STUDIES license fields have the following occupational experience requirements:
1) Occupational license fields:
Paid work experience, outside of education or teaching, in a job or jobs directly related to the area of licensure being sought.
Recency requirement: At least 2000 hours within the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application for licensure.
Note: Teaching experience in any related post-secondary field may be substituted for up to 1500 hours within the last five (5) years, with a ratio of two (2) hours of teaching for one (1) hour of occupational experience. [Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the occupational experience for individual license fields.]
Form: Paid Occupational Experience Verification Form
2) General studies license fields:
Paid work experience [outside of education or teaching].
Recency requirement: [Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the recency requirements for individual license fields.]
Form: Paid Occupational Experience Verification Form
3) Definitions:
- Full-time educational service: 1080 hours annually [e.g. six (6) hours daily five (5) days per week, nine (9) months or longer per year].
- Full-time occupational service: 2000 hours annually [e.g. eight (8) hours daily, five (5) days per week, 50 weeks per year].
4) Options / Alternative Substitutions:
An applicant who does not meet the occupational experience requirements for an occupational or general studies license field shall be eligible to pursue an alternate form of occupational experience, as specified below:
a) Self-or-family employment experience. Occupational experience obtained through self-or-family employment directly related to the area of licensure sought shall be accepted for all or part of the occupational experience required for licensure. Self-or-family employment hours shall have constituted paid occupational experience as verified by a professional who is qualified to evaluate financial business documents.
Form: Self-or-Family Employment Verification Form
b) Military experience. Occupational experience in the military, as verified by a United States Department of Defense DD Form 214, directly related to the area of licensure sought must be accepted for the total occupational experience required for licensure. DD Form 214: the form verifying separation from military service obtained from the separating authority upon release from active service.
c) Directed occupational experience. One (1) hour of pre-planned occupational experience preapproved by the Licensure Office may substitute for each two (2) hours of the regular occupational experience requirement.
d) Preapproved seminar or internship. A seminar or internship preapproved by the Licensure Office may be used to meet the 500 hours occupational experience recency requirement.
Form: Preapproved Internship / Seminar Verification Form
e) Competency-based occupational examinations. Evidence of successful completion of competency based occupational examinations (or equivalent) preapproved by the Licensure Office shall be accepted as proof of occupational competence in lieu of two-thirds (2/3) of the occupational experience requirements.
b. GENERAL EDUCATION license fields DO NOT have occupational experience requirements.
The minimum qualifications for some license fields include professional requirements. Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the professional requirements for individual license fields.
If continuing employment in the license field(s) requires a current professional credential, the timely renewal of this credential shall be verified by the authorized administrator.
4. TEACHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
a. Faculty seeking to qualify for a full-time, five-year occupational or general studies license shall be required to complete the Teacher Education Series (TES):
1) TES “core” course areas:
- Introduction to vocational teaching
- Student and trainee evaluation systems (vocational tests and measurements)
- Course development (course construction)
- Instructional methods (methods of teaching vocational subjects)
- Philosophy and practice of vocational education
2) For a full-time two-year initial license, the individual shall have completed the TES course in "introduction to vocational teaching," or have submitted the completed TES: Prearrangement for Introduction to Vocational Teaching Course Form, signed by the authorized administrator and the TES provider, indicating that the course will be completed within the first 24 weeks of the teaching assignment. An applicant who has a non-vocational education degree is exempt from the introduction to vocational teaching course; an applicant who has a vocational education degree is exempt from all of the TES courses and meets the teacher education requirement for the five-year, full-time license.
Form: TES: Prearrangement for Introduction to Vocational Teaching Course Form
§ By the end of the second year of the full-time two-year initial license, the individual shall have completed a minimum of two (2) additional semester credits [three (3) additional quarter credits] in the TES.
§ By the end of each of the next three (3) years after the full-time two-year initial license is granted, the individual shall have completed the equivalent of a minimum of two (2) additional TES semester credits [three (3) quarter credits] each year until the ten (10) semester credits [15 quarter credits] TES series is completed, at which time the five-year license is granted.
3) For the full-time five-year initial license, the individual who has a vocational education degree [not an “education degree”] is exempt from all the TES courses as listed above.
4) For an additional license field(s): The licensure status that exists for the initial license(s) also applies to the additional license(s). For example, if an additional license(s) is granted to an individual holding a two-year initial license(s), it shall be an additional two-year license(s); if an additional license(s) is granted to an individual holding a five-year initial license(s), it shall be an additional five-year license(s).
5) Options / Alternative Substitutions:
An applicant who has already taken two (2) or more of the courses in the TES series shall be exempt from the introduction to vocational teaching course.
An applicant who does not meet the TES requirements, where applicable, shall be eligible to:
§ substitute completion of an equivalent course(s) for courses in the TES.
Form: Course Equivalency Verification Form
§ substitute completion of all criterion examinations of a competency based vocational teacher education licensing program verified by an approved Minnesota institution as equivalent to the vocational Teacher Education Series.
b. Faculty seeking to qualify for a full-time, five-year general education license shall be required to meet one (1) of the following options:
1) Teaching Experience: At the time of hire the faculty member shall submit verification of having successfully completed a minimum of two (2) academic years [2.00 FTE] paid teaching experience at the post-secondary level. This experience shall include complete responsibility for all aspects of instruction, including evaluation of the learner. Verification shall be via the Paid Occupational Experience Verification Form.
OR
2) Teacher Education Coursework: At the time of hire or prior to the expiration of the initial two-year license, the faculty member shall submit verification of having successfully completed one (1) college-level course in each of the following (a total of two (2) courses):
- Student outcomes assessment /evaluation, and
- Instructional methods
Each course shall have, as its focus, secondary or post-secondary learners, and shall be a minimum of two (2) semester credits. Verification shall be via an official transcript.
C. PART-TIME LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:
1. EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
a. For occupational license fields, the individual must meet one of the following:
1) Meet the full-time licensure requirements as stated in the minimum qualifications for each license field; OR
2) Have a bachelor's degree or above, with a major acceptable for the full-time license and one (1) of the following within the last five (5) years: ten (10) semester hours in the field, 180 clock hours specific to the field, 150 clock hours of teaching content specific to the field, or 500 hours of relevant occupational experience; OR
3) Have 4000 hours of vendor, business or industrial training experience, or experience teaching primary program content, with 2000 hours in the last five years; OR
4) Have one (1) year of technical training or education in the field and one-half (1/2) of the occupational experience, including recency [e.g. one (1) year technical training or education plus 2000 hours occupational experience, all within the last five (5) years].
b. For general studies and general education license fields, the individual must meet the academic requirements for each specific license field.
[Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the educational requirements for individual license fields.]
2. PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
[Refer to MnSCU License Fields for the professional credentials required for individual license fields.]
3. TEACHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
There are no teacher education requirements for part-time licensure.
D. INTERMITTENTLY EMPLOYED FACULTY HOLDING FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME LICENSES:
Definition: An intermittently employed faculty member is one who is not continuously employed [i.e. does not receive continuous appointments each semester of each academic year] but who receives appointments for a portion of each academic year. [For example, a faculty member who receives appointments only for the fall semesters of each year.]
1. An intermittently employed faculty member shall be required to submit to the Licensure Office a new License Application Form, verifying employment and signed by the authorized administrator, prior to each term he/she is re-employed.
2. A faculty member who is teaching intermittently at more than one college may retain all current licenses, regardless of whether or not he/she is employed in all of those license fields.
3. All license(s) for faculty who are intermittently employed must be renewed during the regular renewal cycle.
E. OTHER ISSUES FOR FACULTY HOLDING FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME LICENSES:
1. A faculty member who is continuously employed and holds more than one (1) license and who is subsequently assigned to work in only one (1) of their license fields shall have all licenses remain in "active" status, providing that all licensure renewal requirements are met.
2. A faculty member holding a part-time license who subsequently applies for a full-time license in the same license field may, at the time of application, use the fact that he/she met the minimum qualifications for the full-time license at the time the part-time license was issued only if the application for the full-time license occurs within five (5) years of the issuing of the part-time license and the minimum qualifications for the full-time license have not changed since then. NOTE: A new license application must be submitted for the new license field requested.
3. MnSCU faculty who have been issued a license(s) for employment at a vocational-technical entity outside the MnSCU system shall not have that license(s) or any work experience at that entity credited toward MSCF [formerly UTCE] seniority.
4. Faculty holding unlimited full-time or unlimited part-time appointments who are subsequently assigned to teach non-credit courses and who wish to maintain their license(s) shall have the same license renewal requirements as faculty who are teaching credit courses.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart B.]
A. COMMITTEE REVIEW ELIGIBILITY
An individual who meets all requirements other than the occupational experience requirements for a full-time or part-time occupational license field may request committee review. The individual shall submit an application, signed by the authorized administrator, to the system administration.
1. Individuals applying for a license(s) in a non-occupational field, e.g. general studies, general education and/or counselor, are not eligible for committee review to verify occupational experience.
2. No fees shall be assessed for committee reviews for MnSCU faculty. As of July 1, 2000, a fee of $200.00 shall be assessed for each committee review for vocational technical instructors outside the MnSCU system.
Form: Committee Review Application Form
B. REVIEW COMMITTEE AND PROCEDURE
The system administration shall appoint a review committee, comprised of a minimum of three individuals having relevant occupational experience in the license field requested by the individual. The committee shall reevaluate the individual's qualifications for the license field requested, concentrating on deficiencies identified in the evaluation of occupational experience requirements.
1. The review committee shall include: a MnSCU licensed faculty member; a practitioner in the license field being considered; and another individual having relevant occupational experience.
2. Members of the review committee shall exercise professional judgment based upon their expertise and their relevant work experience in the license field.
3. The applicant's competencies shall be evaluated in relation to specific criteria in accordance with the appropriate minimum qualifications.
4. The dialogue between the applicant and the committee shall be recorded and the tape kept on file at the MnSCU Licensure Office for one (1) year following the date of the committee review.
5. Recommendations of the review committee are final. An individual who does not receive approval from the review committee may request another committee review after one (1) year has elapsed since the previous committee review.
[Policy 3.9, Procedure 3.9.1, Part 4., Subpart C.]
NOTE: FACULTY MEMBERS WHOSE LICENSES EXPIRE PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2004 MAY USE EITHER THESE REVISED GUIDELINES OR THOSE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THEIR RENEWAL CYCLES BEGAN. FACULTY MEMBERS WHOSE LICENSES EXPIRE ON JULY 1, 2004 OR LATER MUST USE THESE REVISED GUIDELINES.
A. RATIONALE FOR LICENSE RENEWAL
License renewal is a credentialing process to assure a continuing minimum level of faculty competence in their license fields.
B. LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME FACULTY
1. License renewal is required for all full-time and part-time faculty holding a five-year license(s). Faculty holding an initial two-year license(s) have yearly renewal provisions based on completion of the Teacher Education Requirements.
2. An individual who holds a full-time or part-time five-year license shall be issued a renewed five-year license(s) when renewal requirements have been met during the five (5) year period immediately preceding the date on which the requested renewal is to be made effective.
3. Final approval of activities shall be the responsibility of the local renewal committee. Renewal applications shall be signed by the college’s authorized administrator and the local renewal committee chair, then forwarded to the MnSCU Licensure Office for processing.
4. If a faculty member's renewal requirements are not met within the specified timeframes, the renewal shall not be granted, the license shall be considered lapsed, and that individual is no longer qualified to be employed in that license field.
5. One (1) extension of no longer than six (6) months from the date the license(s) has lapsed shall be granted by the system administration upon a signed recommendation by the authorized administrator. The License Renewal Application Form must be completed and submitted along with the signed recommendation.
Form: License Renewal Application Form
1. LICENSE RENEWAL ACTIVITY CATEGORIES
Two teaching competency areas and one “other” activities area have been identified as a framework for license renewal activities. Faculty shall choose appropriate renewal activities related to the renewal activity categories listed under each area [see the Renewal Activity Competencies chart at the end of this license renewal section.]
a. Occupational Competency
[Includes recent occupational work experience in a work setting and current knowledge of technical theoretical content, both of which must be related to the faculty member’s license field.]
b. Teaching-Learning Competency
[Does not have to be related to the license field.]
c. “Other” Activities
2. SELECTION OF RENEWAL ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE TEACHING COMPETENCE
a. Faculty shall choose appropriate renewal activities based on their needs and applying these renewal guidelines.
b. Using the Renewal Activity Competencies chart faculty may select appropriate renewal activities from any of the renewal activity categories listed under any of the above three areas. To clarify, renewal units may be earned from renewal activity categories in just one area, or in two or three of the areas.
c. If a proposed renewal activity was included under the appropriate renewal activity categories, no prior approval is required by the local renewal committee unless so indicated in the Renewal Activity Competencies chart. Note: faculty are encouraged to seek prior approval from the local renewal committee if there is any question regarding the appropriateness of the proposed activity.
d. If a proposed renewal activity was not included under the appropriate renewal activity categories, prior approval is required by the local renewal committee.
e. If continuing employment in the license field(s) requires a professional credential, the currency status of this credential shall be verified by the authorized administrator at the time of license renewal.
3. NUMBER OF LICENSE RENEWAL UNITS AND THE LICENSE RENEWAL TIMESPAN
a. The term “renewal units” is now used in place of “clock hours.”
b. One hundred and eight (108) renewal units are required for license renewal during the license renewal timespan of every five (5) years. Faculty should renew their licenses between January 1st and June 30th during the year their licenses expire. Renewal applications must be received by the Licensure Office no later than July 1st in the year the license(s) is due to expire.
c. The ratio of renewal units to activity hours is in the Renewal Activity Competencies chart.
d. Faculty holding multiple licenses [licenses in more than one license field, whether full-time or part-time licenses] have the following license renewal requirements:
1) For a licenses(s) held in a license field(s) in which the faculty member has been actively employed within the past five (5) years: A total of 108 renewal units are required for renewal of all of these licenses [not 108 hours for each license]. These renewal units may be selected from any of the appropriate license renewal activity categories listed on the Renewal Activity Competencies chart.
2) For a license(s) held in a license field(s) in which the faculty member has not been actively employed within the past five (5) years: An additional 54 renewal units are required for each license for which renewal is requested. Note: these additional renewal units are in addition to the 108 units for field(s) in which the faculty member has been actively employed. These additional 54 renewal units for each license field for which renewal is requested must be selected from the appropriate license renewal activity categories listed in the “Occupational Competency” area in the Renewal Activity Competencies chart.
3) NOTE: the completion of one particular approved renewal activity may meet requirements in more than one of the multiple license fields.
4) Correlation of expiration dates for a faculty member holding multiple licenses must be requested in writing; the new expiration date will be the earliest expiration date required by one of the licenses. All renewal requirements must be met for each license field held.
D. LOCAL RENEWAL COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITY
1. Local renewal committee membership shall be five (5) faculty members holding either full-time or part-time licenses, plus one (1) administrator or designee. The License Renewal Committee Form, listing members of the local renewal committee, shall be sent to the MnSCU Licensure Office each fall semester.
Form: License Renewal Committee Form
2. Local renewal committee responsibilities and operating procedures shall be developed and monitored at the local level. The MnSCU Licensure Office will develop a handbook for the colleges to serve as a guide for the renewal process.
3. Verification of the local renewal committee review shall be submitted to the system administration and shall include the signature of the authorized administrator and the chair of the local renewal committee. [Note: The Master Record shall remain on file at campus.]
4. Any unresolved issues between a faculty member and the local renewal committee will be addressed at the local level.
E. RELATIONSHIP OF LICENSE RENEWAL TO SABBATICAL LEAVE
The completion of any college-approved sabbatical leave activities will meet the license renewal requirements for that faculty member’s current renewal cycle.
No fees shall be assessed for the license renewal process for MnSCU faculty. As of July 1, 2000, a fee of $75.00 shall be assessed for the license renewal process for vocational technical instructors outside the MnSCU system.
G. RENEWAL ACTIVITY COMPETENCIES CHART
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