Instructor Information

MCCCD Teaching Requirements

The State of Arizona no longer requires a certificate to teach at the community college level. However, the State has asked each County to establish its own minimum qualifications. Maricopa Community College District has adopted the following minimum qualifications for faculty:

Minimum Requirements for Academic Areas
Academic Teaching Fields require the following from an accredited college or university:

• a master's degree in the teaching field, or
• a master's in any teaching field with 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching field.
• EDU 250 - Overview of the Community Colleges — or equivalent must be completed within two years of date of hire.

Minimum Requirements for Occupational Areas

Occupational Teaching Fields require the following from an accredited college or university:

• the same qualifications as those listed for Academic Teaching Fields, or
• a bachelor's degree plus 3 years work experience in field to be taught, or
• an associate's degree or 64 semester hours and 5 years work experience in the field to be taught, or
• 5 years work experience in the field to be taught.
• EDU 250 - Overview of the Community Colleges or equivalent must be completed within two years of date of hire.

Note: Some disciplines have minimum requirement exceptions.
See full requirements and exceptions for faculty at the link below.
https://hr.maricopa.edu/jobs/how-to-apply/faculty-minimum-qualifications

Why Teach?

Certainly there will be additional preparation and communication with the community college required to teach a Dual Enrollment course. However, Dual Enrollment teachers have reported that they have benefited greatly in the following ways:

1. Classroom Facilities & Equipment - With the reimbursement payments, teachers and schools are able to provide resources to create optimal teaching and learning environments. These may include books, computers, and lab equipment.
2. Teacher Development - SMCC is required to provide dual enrollment teachers with training and perform annual evaluations. The training and evaluation are provided to aid in the teachers' professional development. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to participate in professional growth opportunities offered through SMCC and the Maricopa Community College system.
3. Motivated Students - Students have additional motivation to learn. This motivation often provides a great teaching and learning environment and puts the fun back in teaching for Dual Enrollment teachers to enjoy.
4. Teacher Employment - Dual Enrollment teachers are often sought after to teach evening and weekend courses for SMCC or other community colleges.
5. Altruistic Benefits - Probably most important of all the reasons for teaching Dual Enrollment are the benefits which teachers provide for their students. Additionally, teachers are helping their high schools to develop and maintain quality education standards.

Admissions Requirement - Students must be admitted to SMCC before they enroll in dual enrollment courses. By State Statute, students under eighteen years of age may be admitted to a community college by achieving one of the following:

• A composite score of 93 or more on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).
• A composite score of 930 or more on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
• A composite score of twenty-two or more on the American College Test (ACT).
• A passing score on the relevant portions of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test.
• The completion of a college placement test designated by the community college district that indicates the student is at the appropriate college level for the course.
• Is a graduate of a private or public high school or has a high school certificate of equivalency.

Student Conduct - In addition to the rules outlined by the high schools, students are required to follow the policies and procedures of SMCC. This includes behavior and conduct.

Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement - Dual Enrollment courses focus on skills application, allowing for a more flexible curriculum which may include labs and computer applications. Students receive a grade and credit for the work performed throughout the school year. These credits usually transfer to the student's college of choice as direct course equivalents. Advanced Placement classes prepare students to pass the AP test. Credit is awarded solely on the students' performance on this one exam and may transfer to college only as an elective credit.

Tuition and Fees - Dual Enrollment students pay the same tuition rate assessed for all Maricopa Community College courses unless otherwise stated in the high school inter-government agreement. This is a significant savings over private and out-of-state colleges, and about one third the cost of comparable in-state university courses. Current tuition rates are listed in the registration materials. As an additional savings, many dual students do not have to purchase textbooks or pay lab fees because these materials are generally provided by the high school.

Disciplinary Action - Disciplinary action will follow the policies of SMCC. This may include, but is not limited to, withdrawing a student, probation, and disallowance of future enrollment at SMCC.