Responsible Executive: Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
I. PURPOSE
Motlow State Community College (Motlow State) recognizes that the ability to communicate effectively is an essential skill necessary for all faculty to perform successfully. Therefore, to assure that all Motlow State faculty are proficient in oral and written English, the following guidelines will be used in the review and evaluation of English language competency of candidates for appointment to or tenure in a teaching position at Motlow State.
II. PROCEDURES
- At a minimum, candidates shall demonstrate:
- An ability to speak and write English clearly;
- An ability to understand written and spoken English; and
- An ability to communicate effectively in an academic environment.
- Motlow State shall have written procedures for review and evaluation of English language competency of candidates for appointment to or tenure in a teaching position.
- No individual shall be appointed to a teaching position or recommended for tenure in such a position on any campus of Motlow State unless the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs has certified that such an individual can communicate effectively with students in the English language.
- The foregoing criteria are to be used strictly as a measure of a candidate’s ability to communicate effectively as an instructor and shall not be utilized to arbitrarily disqualify applicants.
- All candidates for part-time teaching assignments at Motlow State will be required to attend screening interviews with the appropriate Dean. Interviews will be structured in such a way as to ensure appropriate evaluation of oral and written English proficiency.
- The process includes procedures ensuring compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and prohibits discrimination against a qualified individual with disabilities.
- All annual evaluations of current teaching faculty will include an assessment of oral and written English proficiency, and all positive recommendations made pursuant to annual evaluations will be indicative of a satisfactory evaluation of oral and written English proficiency. In the event that a current teaching faculty member should receive a negative recommendation related to oral and/or written English proficiency, Motlow State will consider reasonable requests for Faculty and Staff Development funds to pay for such special assistance as may be necessary to improve the spoken or written English competency to an acceptable proficiency.
SOURCES
CORRESPONDING POLICY
HISTORY
Approved by the President’s Cabinet on January 12, 2009;
Editorial update December 21, 2016
Revised: January 18, 2023
Institutional Oversight Committee Approved: May 31, 2023
Faculty Council Approved: March 23, 2023
President’s Cabinet Approved: June 12, 2023
TBR Academic Affairs Approved: August 16, 2023
Effective Date: January 12, 2009; August 16, 2023