Hillsborough Community College (HCC) employs an adequate number of full-time faculty members to achieve the educational mission and goals of the institution; the majority of the course sections are taught by full-time faculty.  Further, HCC has adequate faculty resources to ensure the quality and integrity of its academic programs.

In 2004-2005, HCC employed 242 full-time faculty to support 31,839 credit students (14,635 full time equivalent), and an average class size of 22. From 2003 to 2004 the number of full-time faculty increased from 238 to 242, or by 1.7%. At this rate, HCC will have 246 full-time faculty by 2005-2006.  

There are three predominate methods used to ensure that HCC maintains an adequate number of faculty to achieve the educational mission and goals of the institution. The methods are as follows:

1) Course Enrollment Review Process – The number of faculty to course sections ratio is under constant review by deans. As enrollment in course sections grows to a sufficient number to support a full-time faculty member’s employment, a dean makes staffing recommendations the respective Campus President during the budget process.  (Flow Chart of HCC).  Moreover, full-time faculty are awarded overloads to teach additional courses in their respective disciplines[Agreement between the Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees and the Faculty United Services Association August 2004 – 2007, Article 8, pp. 32-45 (HCC- FUSA Contract)]. 

2) Program Review Process– Completed every five years, the Program Review process functions to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of HCC's academic programs.  The process also affords the deans of the various program areas the opportunity to highlight the need to increase faculty and resources in order to maintain or support the academic integrity of the program (Program Review Model).

3)  Development of New Programs – full-time faculty members are assigned to newly developed programs in order to ensure the use of sound pedagogical methods in course development and delivery ( Academic Affairs Handbook, pg. 11).

Six (6) methods are used to ensure that HCC maintains adequate faculty resources to ensure the quality and integrity of its academic programs:

1) Faculty Selection Process – Hillsborough Community College has identified a faculty selection procedure and minimum credential requirement for full-time and for part-time faculty.  (Faculty Credential Operations Manual) The procedure includes the following processes:  advertising the position; screening the applications; screening the applicants; and validating the transcripts.  (Administrative Rule 6HX-10-3.20, Recruitment, Selection, Appointment, and Assignment of Personnel; Administrative Procedure 3.03, Employment Advertising and Recruitment; Administrative Procedure 3.05, Screening of Employees; 21st Century Skills List; Faculty Transcript Evaluation Form; HCC On-line Application; Roster of Full and Part-Time Faculty).

2)  Faculty Evaluation Process – Hillsborough Community College regularly evaluates the effectiveness of each full-time and part-time faculty member.  (HCC FUSA Contract, Article 9, page 64).  The stated purpose of the evaluation process is to promote the highest quality in student instruction, encourage the highest quality performance by faculty, encourage professional growth, and evaluate faculty job performance.  ( HCC FUSA Contract, Article 8, page 32; Part-Time Faculty Handbook 2005-2006, page 29; Instructional Faculty Evaluation Performance Review; Faculty Self-Assessment Faculty Accomplishments; Student Evaluation for Full-time Faculty; Faculty Self-Assessment Goal Setting Plan; Tenured Faculty Evaluation Waiver).  

3) Faculty Professional Development Process - Hillsborough Community College provides ongoing development of full-time faculty as teachers, scholars, and practitioners throughout their career.  Faculty development is required and documented through tenure portfolios, personnel files, in-service meetings, Sabbatical Leave, attendance at professional meetings, and memberships in professional organizations.  For untenured faculty,  successful completion of two courses is required:  College Teaching and An Overview of the Community College System. (HCC-FUSA Contract, Article 6, page 13 & Article 6.20, page 26; Application for Faculty Sabbatical Leave; Faculty Enhancement of Professional Skills; End of Term Verification; Request for Advancement in Professional Rank; HCC Faculty Development website). Moreover, as compared to the numerous opportunities listed for full-time faculty to complete a required yearly 10 hours of professional development, the primary venue for part-time faculty professional development is in-service. More specifically, part-time faculty are required to participate in part-time faculty in-service and can also participate in full-time faculty professional development opportunities. Approximately 90% of part-time faculty attended in-service 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.  Additionally, HCC offers tuition reimbursements to its administrators, faculty, and staff.

4)  Safeguarding and Protecting Academic Freedom - HCC embraces the concept of academic freedom and guarantees it through our agreements with the Faculty United Services Association (HCC- FUSA Contract, Article 6.2, page 13) and HCC Administrative Rule SBE 6HX-10-4.13. The article states that a faculty member, whether tenured or not, is entitled to academic freedom as follows: A) A faculty member is entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to adequate performance of his other academic duties; and B) A faculty member is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his subject, in devising and selecting teaching strategies and educational materials and in using them to present his subject. This Administrative Rule establishes the institutional philosophy as set forth by the HCC Board of Trustees.

5)  Academic Affairs Process– Hillsborough Community College’s Academic Affairs Committee, comprised of elected faculty members from all discipline clusters, is responsible for curriculum development.  The faculty responsibilities and involvement in curriculum development are outlined in the Academic Affairs Handbook ( Affairs Documentation and Minutes).

6) Published Policies Regarding Responsibility of Faculty - The primary responsibility of an instructional faculty member is to educate students. The Administration provides the necessary support services and personnel to enable all faculty members to perform their responsibilities.  HCC publishes policies on the responsibility and authority of full-time faculty in academic and governance matters.  ( HCC- FUSA Contract, Article 8, pp. 32-37).  HCC publishes policies on the responsibility and authority of part-time faculty in the Adjunct Faculty Handbook.