Common use of Terminal Degree Clause in Contracts

Terminal Degree. Hiring of a faculty member without ABD status, a terminal degree, or without a master’s degree plus professional certification appropriate to the discipline should be a rare occurrence. A timeline for completion of the terminal degree for ABD faculty or faculty who still need to complete their master’s degree plus professional certification shall be agreed upon by the VPAA and the faculty member upon negotiation of the initial contract. Faculty who do not meet the terminal degree requirements in their discipline or related field are not eligible to apply for tenured faculty status. It is recognized, however, that the criteria for a terminal degree vary by discipline and that, in some instances, equivalent professional achievement is regarded as a qualification for tenure. The determination of what constitutes a terminal degree in each discipline is made by the Administration and normally will be the degree deemed appropriate for teaching at the college/university level by a recognized accrediting body in that discipline.

Terminal Degree. Hiring of a faculty member without ABD status, a terminal degree, or without a master’s degree plus professional certification appropriate to the discipline should be a rare occurrence. A timeline for completion of the terminal degree for ABD faculty or faculty who still need to complete their master’s degree plus professional certification shall be agreed upon by the VPAA and the faculty member upon negotiation of the initial contract. Faculty who do not meet the terminal degree requirements in their discipline or related field are not eligible to apply for tenured faculty status. It is recognized, however, that the criteria for a terminal degree vary by discipline and that, in some instances, equivalent professional achievement is regarded as a qualification for tenure. The determination of what constitutes a terminal degree in each discipline is made by the Administration and normally will be the degree deemed appropriate for teaching at the college/university level by a recognized accrediting body in that discipline. Certification/Licensure. In certain disciplines, professional certification/licensure is necessary to adequately meet the requirements of the faculty position. In such cases, the faculty member must maintain current and active certification/licensure status.