3.2.9 Faculty/staff Appointment

The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of Faculty and staff.

St. Petersburg College is in compliance with this comprehensive standard because its employment and appointment policies and procedures are defined and published.

Florida Statute 1001.64 Community college boards of trustees; powers and duties

(18) Each board of trustees shall establish the personnel program for all employees of the community college, including the president, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1012 and rules and guidelines of the State Board of Education, including: compensation and other conditions of employment; recruitment and selection; non-reappointment; standards for performance and conduct; evaluation; benefits and hours of work; leave policies; recognition; inventions and work products; travel; learning opportunities; exchange programs; academic freedom and responsibility; promotion; assignment; demotion; transfer; ethical obligations and conflict of interest; restrictive covenants; disciplinary actions; complaints; appeals and grievance procedures; and separation and termination from employment.

The selection, appointment and employment of qualified Faculty and staff are the joint responsibility of the College’s Human Resources Department and the hiring administrators located at the campus site and the department. To ensure a legal and objective basis for making hiring and employment decision, the College has established Board Rules and Procedures governing appointment and employment.

6Hx23-2.01 Equal Employment opportunity/Affirmative Action. Establishes the policy of the College to provide equal employment opportunity for all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, and not discriminate in its employment practices against any qualified handicapped individual with a disability.

6Hx23-2.02 General Employment Rules. Describes the authority and responsibilities of the President of the College regarding employment, general rules on eligibility for continued employment, types of temporary personnel, and employee benefits regarding education with the College.

6Hx23-2.022 Qualification of Instructional, Administrative and Professional Personnel. Describes the qualification guidelines and professional development requirements for Faculty and Administrative Personnel.

6Hx23-2.201 Employment - Full-Time Instructional Personnel. Describes the procedures for hiring new full-time Faculty.

6Hx23-2.21 Contracts for Instructional Personnel – Continuing Contracts. Describes the contracts for Faculty who have attained continuing contract status.

6Hx23-2.211 Instructional Contracts other than 12-month. Describes additional types of contracts offered to Faculty.

6Hx23-2.212 Instructional Contracts for 12-month Teaching Faculty. Describes the base contract for Faculty with 12-month responsibilities.

6Hx23-2.22 Reappointment or Non-reappointment of Instructional and Administrative Personnel not under Continuing Contract. Describes the process by which reappointments and non-reappointments are brought before the Board of Trustees.

6Hx23-2.23 Adjunct, Supplemental, and Percent-of-Load Instructor Contracts. Describes contracts for instructors who are working part-time for the College.

6Hx23-2.012 Employment/Disabled Persons. Provides guidance on waiver of procedures and practices to provide reasonable accommodation.

P6Hx3-2.151 Procedure: Employment "OPS Career Temporary" Persons. Describes the approval and hiring process for temporary personnel.

P6Hx23-2.2012 Procedure; Suspension or Dismissal of Employees under Written Contract or Continuing Contract. Sets forth unacceptable conduct for employees under written or continuing contract.

The College ensures that new or revised personnel policies and procedures undergo careful review, discussion and agreement before being recommended to the Board of Trustees for action. When a need surfaces for a new or revised policy, the College follows its Requirements for Rulemaking, as noted below. As proposed changes are developed, the originator often discusses the proposals with various standing councils, such as the Faculty Governing Organization (FGO), the Provost Council, and the Cabinet prior to submitting the change through the President’s Cabinet and the College Attorney for consideration by the Board of Trustees. The College publishes notifications of such changes according to provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), including timely publishing for rule development and adoption.

Adopting, Amending, or Deleting a Rule or Procedure

Suggested changes to the Rules and Procedures of the College should be made to a member of the President's Cabinet, who may then submit such suggestion to the College Attorney's Office for submission to the President's Cabinet for consideration. All suggested changes must be submitted as follows:

1. A Request for Rule/Procedure Change Form must be completed for each Rule/Procedure change, signed by the appropriate Cabinet member, and forwarded to the Vice President of Business Services [for costs].

2. A Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs Form must be completed for each change and signed by the appropriate Cabinet member. It is the responsibility of the Cabinet member initiating the change to prepare the Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs and to submit it to the Vice President of Business Services with the forms or attachments required in Paragraphs 1. & 3. herein.

3. A copy of the proposed changes showing additions or deletions to the Rule or Procedure should be attached to the forms required in Paragraphs 1. & 2. herein.

4. The vice president of Business Services shall review the proposed change(s), sign the Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs, and forward it to the equal access/equal opportunity administrator for review.

5. The equal access/equal opportunity administrator shall review the proposed change(s), sign the Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs and forward all items required in Paragraphs 1., 2., and 3. herein to the College Attorney's Office for preparation and submittal to the President's Cabinet.

Upon review and approval of the proposed change(s) by the President's Cabinet, the Rule change will be advertised for Rule Development as required by Chapter 120, F. S.

Following Rule Development, the proposed change(s) shall be reviewed … by President's Cabinet and shall be advertised for Rule adoption as required by Chapter 120, F. S.

The President is authorized to adopt, amend, or delete a Procedure without Cabinet review in extenuating circumstances. The President is also authorized to prepare a Rule change for Board consideration without Cabinet review.

The Board Rules and Procedures Manual are maintained and revised, as needed, by the College Attorney and Human Resources Director, and is maintained by the Human Resources Office. They are available to members of the College and the general public in the Office of the General Counsel and the administrative offices of each campus. They are also published on the College Web site.

SPC’s Faculty Manual also outlines the Board of Trustee Rules and Procedures that describe various policies related to the appointment and employment of Faculty. The Faculty Manual is updated annually and is posted online. Proposed changes to the all Board policies are published in the institution-wide newsletter, the Blue & White.

The Human Resources Office maintains detailed procedures for screening of applications and selection of candidates for vacancies. Detailed records of recruitment and selection activities are maintained in Human Resources.

The College also maintains an online application system allowing convenient access by applicants for College vacancies. The recruitment Web site also includes detailed instructions and policy information for application and hiring procedures.

Human Resources uses detailed checklists to ensure compliance with all steps of the hiring policies. As an example, the checklist for hiring Faculty includes compliance with State hiring requirements, an EA/EO review, and dissemination of SPC policies on Sexual Harassment, Drug-Free Workplace, HIPAA, and other policies.

The HR Credentialing Office carefully reviews all Faculty qualifications prior to adding them to the Course Scheduling module of SPC’s Student Information System, PeopleSoft, allowing Program Directors and Deans to schedule them only for classes for which they have received clearance. SPC has implemented a feature in PeopleSoft that prevents Faculty from being assigned to a course for which they have not received clearance from the Credentialing office. This ensures the policies regarding Faculty qualifications are followed.

One of the requirements for offering continuing contract to Faculty is the completion of six hours of graduate courses in college teaching and community colleges or an equivalent online course for Faculty with doctorates. The Staff and Professional Development Office maintains a database of all personnel who have completed or partially completed the requirement, which is provided to senior administrators who use this information along with the instructors’ evaluations and supervisor recommendations for decisions on offering continuing contract.