The Hiring Qualifications of Full Time Community College Faculty that Teach the Economics Principles Courses: Two Surveys.

This document summarizes the results of two surveys from the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona (MCCCD) that focused on the qualifications that community colleges use when hiring economics faculty. The first survey was conducted by mail and includes data from 32 colleges in 15 states. The second survey focused on employment ads from the Chronicle of Higher Education over a 9-month period and includes data from 24 colleges in 14 states. Major findings of hiring requirements from the surveyed institutions include: (1) between 45 and 55 percent require a master's degree in economics as a minimum qualification; (2) over 60 percent have minimum standards that exceed the proposed MCCCD standard of 18 graduate credit hours in economics; (3) over 80 percent require less than three years college teaching experience; and (4) additional hiring preferences include computer literacy, ability to teach in cognate disciplines, related non-teaching experience, and experience with diverse and non-traditional students. Based on the results of the surveys, the authors recommend that MCCCD raise the proposed minimum standards for hiring new full time economics faculty. The minimum requirement should be a master's degree in economics or any master's degree plus 30 graduate credit hours in economics. At least one year of college teaching experience should be required. Appendices include a copy of the mail survey; mail survey results and participants; a copy of Chronicle job listings; and an analysis of job listings. (RDG)