Minimum Qualifications & Equivalencies Committee
Community College Reform Act (AB 1725)
After the passed the legislature in 1988, California Community College Teaching Credentials were no longer issued and the hiring of faculty and administrators to teach at the California Community Colleges was based on minimum qualifications for each discipline. The disciplines and related disciplines were determined by the Statewide Academic Senate and published in the disciplines list adopted by the CCC Board of Governors. Repurposed, shall be deemed to possess the minimum qualifications specified for every discipline or service covered by the credential until the expiration of that credential." (EC 87355:CC 87355).
For most academic transfer disciplines, the minimum qualifications are a Master's degree in the discipline of the assignment or equivalent. For disciplines in which a Master's degree is not generally expected or available, the minimum qualifications are a Bachelor's degree in the appropriate discipline and two years of working experience, or an Associate degree and six years of experience.
Counselors and librarians are also expected to hold appropriate Master's degrees. There are special requirements for employees of Academic Accommodations Center (AAC) and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).
The law allows for local Academic Senates to establish equivalencies to the minimum qualifications listed in the Discipline List. The equivalencies must be true equivalencies that include general education knowledge as well as discipline specific knowledge.
NOTE: Colleges may include additional criteria over and above the minimums when hiring, but can never hire below the minimums.
Minimum Qualifications and Equivalencies Committee
The Minimum Qualifications and Equivalencies committee (MQE) of the Senate developed a process for establishing equivalencies to the minimum qualifications at COC as outlined in Administrative Procedures 7121. These procedures were approved by the Academic Senate on September 26, 2013, modified after the Academic Senate voted to remove particular equivalencies on November 10, 2016, and revised in spring 2017 and approved by the Academic Senate on May 25, 2017. AP 7121 2017
An instructor may apply to the Minimum Qualifications andEquivalency Committee of the Academic Senate if the applicant feels that his or her qualifications are equivalent to the statewide minimum qualifications as listed on the Disciplines List. Equivalency applicants must submit transcripts and other documentation to support the request. Equivalency may never mean fewer qualifications than the published minimum qualifications. Also note, equivalencies do not transfer from district to district.
Meets: 1:00pm - 2:00pm on the third Monday of each month
Location: Zoom
Faculty Chair:
- Alisha Kaminsky, Career Counselor, Career Services
Faculty Appointments:
- Aivee Ortega, Enrollment Services/Counseling
- Diana Stanich, Kinesiology, Health & Wellness, Fitness & Athletics
- James Gilmore, Mathematics, Science & Engineering
- Justin Hunt, Applied Technologies
- Mary Powell, Humanities
- Nerissa Yuhico, Health Professions
- Pamela Williams-Paez, Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Robert Maxwell, Business
- VACANT, Visual & Performing Arts
Other Members:
- Miranda Zamudio, Director of Human Resources
California Community Colleges Minimum Qualifications Handbook
Prior Editions of Minimum Qualifications:
Teaching Credentials Required to Teach in a California Community College Prior to the Establishment of Minimum Qualifications:
1984 Guide to Subject Matter Areas California Community College Credentials
COC Academic Senate List of Equivalencies to the Minimum Qualifications
Below are the list of Equivalencies to the Minimum Qualifications every Discipline as established by individual Departments at College of the Canyons. This list must be updated 5 years, but can be updated as needed. The lists below were developed in 2014-2015 and modified in 2016.
LIST of Min Quals Equivalencies for Each Discipline Requiring a Master's Degree - Fall 2020
LIST of Min. Quals Equivalencies for Each Discipline NOT Requiring a Master's Degree - Fall 2020