Before Applying to Teach Dual Credit – Expectations, Minimum Credentials and Deadlines

Expectations

Read information about OTC Dual Credit for schools, as well as the expectations for dual credit instructors explained below, before proceeding further. Accreditation standards and dual credit policies require dual credit instructors to follow OTC policies and procedures. OTC holds students in dual credit classes to the same academic standards and expectations as post-secondary students. Learning objectives, grading criteria and course materials for Dual Credit classes are the same as course sections at OTC.

Minimum Credentials

Then, review OTC course descriptions to find the course of interest and compare credentials against instructor credentialing requirements to ensure course(s) of interest and instructor credentials align with OTC and accreditation standards.

Deadlines

Applicants must submit all required materials before May 1 in order to be eligible to teach fall courses and November 1 for spring course eligibility.

Required Application Materials and How to Apply

Required documents for a complete application:

• Instructor Application (fillable form – please type, print, and sign)
• Transcripts (unofficial are accepted for review)
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Sample Syllabus with currently used course materials information

Optional documents:

• Written Narrative (of upper-level teacher experience and course of interest)
• Letters of Recommendation

Scan and email complete application packets only to dualcredit@otc.edu

Required Application Materials and How to Apply – Coming Soon

 After Application

After submitting a completed application packet via the process below, notify us via dualcredit@otc.edu

How to Apply

Currently employed high school instructors may apply to teach OTC courses through the Dual Credit program via the following link(s). If you have questions about the application program, please contact hr@otc.edu

After Application Submission – Review Process

Only completed application packets, for prospective instructors that meet the minimum requirements by our accrediting body, are reviewed by a committee, including the appropriate department chair of the course(s) requested and the academic dean. Any member of the review team may ask the applicant for additional information and/or documentation.

All applicants are notified of the outcome of the review via email. Instructors who meet the qualification requirement in this steps are deemed “eligible” to complete the next steps.

Newly Eligible Instructors – Prior to Teaching an OTC Course and/or Enrolling Students 

Newly eligible instructors must complete the process outlined below before an OTC course can be offered.

The eligible instructor or representative from the high school can pursue the steps to build a school partnership, while the eligible instructor completes the steps below.

1. Onboarding Checklist with OTC HR
   • Eligible instructors must complete the onboarding checklist, via the application portal PageUp, before proceeding to the next step.
     • The checklist includes the OTC Adjunct Orientation course, Dual Credit Program Policies and Procedures Orientation to understand expectations and responsibilities, and any other items listed.
   • Afterward, eligible instructors are provided their OTC username and password, their specific course approval(s), the department chair or faculty liaison contact for each course, as well as expectations and responsibilities, by the dual credit office.
     • Eligible instructors are added to email distribution lists for regular communications and updates.
2. Course Specific Training/Adjunct Educator Conference with the Course Department Liaison
   • Eligible instructors must obtain course specific training prior to teaching each course.
     • Course specific training includes course philosophy, curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. Some of the materials provided during the training include a course syllabus, learning outcomes, required assessments, and grading policies. A collaborative grading activity for the common assessment of each course is recommended.
     • The course materials currently used by the eligible instructor are reviewed for equivalency to OTC course materials by the academic department as well. If course materials currently used are not deemed equivalent, the eligible instructor, faculty liaison and dual credit administration develop a plan and time-frame for course materials adoption.
   • Course specific training occurs through OTC’s academic department chair or their designated faculty liaison.
   • Course specific training for newly eligible instructors often occurs during OTC’s Educator Conference, typically the first Saturday in August. Attendance is tracked at the event for accreditation purposes.
     • However, for those instructors deemed eligible in the fall semester and wish to teach in the spring, the course specific training must occur with the designated faculty liaison prior to offering the course for enrollment. In this other training method, the faculty liaison notifies dualcredit@otc.edu once training is complete for each course for attendance purposes.

After completion of the items listed above, as well as completion of the steps to build a school partnership, the eligible instructor becomes an approved instructor.

Course Materials 

The use of proper course materials during seated instruction of approved courses at your high school is important. Below is information to (1) assist you with understanding why, (2) to communicate how you can check for correct usage, and (3) how to proceed if you need to obtain materials.

Why is this important?

Per the college’s accreditation with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s (MDHE) policies regarding dual credit, schools offering dual credit follow the partnering college’s course content and standards as well as course materials.

Wording from MDHE and copied from OTC Partnership Agreement with your district:

• J. Course Content & Curriculum Standards
  • Course content and course requirements offered in high schools duplicate the identical course offerings delivered on OTC campuses. Dual Credit Instructors ensure each dual credit course has the same level of academic rigor and comparable standards of evaluation as that of its campus-based equivalent. Instructors are expected to follow the course syllabus, assessment activities, and delivery method in a manner which most effectively utilizes the time allotted.
• K. Course Materials
  • Course materials are a vital tool in instruction and for maintaining content consistency; therefore, OTC and CBHE require the high schools or students to obtain and utilize the same textbooks as required by the college. Required textbook information may be obtained by accessing the OTC Bookstore website or by contacting the respective department chair. To request an exception, a copy of the proposed textbook and/or materials must be submitted to the department chair for approval.

Wording copied from our accreditation policy:

• 5.0 Program and Curriculum Standards

• 5.1 Dual credit courses, including course content and course requirements, offered in high schools must duplicate the identical course offerings delivered on campus to matriculated students. On-campus college faculty must ensure that each dual credit course has the same level of academic rigor and comparable standards of evaluation as that of its campus-based equivalent.
• 5.2 Institutions must ensure that dual credit assignments and grading criteria are identical to, or are of comparable design, quality, and rigor to the equivalent campus-based course. Elements of the dual credit course to be approved by the on-campus college faculty in the appropriate academic discipline include the syllabus, textbook(s), teaching methodology, and student assessment strategies.

How to ensure use of proper course materials 

Follow the directions below via this site: http://otc.verbacompare.com/

1. Select “Springfield & Online”
2. Select semester (e.g. Fall 2021)
3. Then enter your approved course code
4. Then select any section on the last drop down
5. And Compare Prices to view required materials
6. If the course materials lists “auto access”, or if you wish to request approval for use of other course materials, and/or if you do not have a copy of the required course materials for the course(s) you teach, please contact the department chair of the course (see contact information under Approved/Current Instructor Resources below).

How to obtain course materials 

See step six above for information on how to obtain a copy for instructor use from the course department chair.

For paper copies, or how to use AutoAccess materials typically used for online classes in your seated clas(es), please contact Sarah Gott gotts@otc.edu well before winter or summer break and the next semester begins.

Course materials resources 

For more information about Auto Access, including Frequently Asked Questions, review this information provided by our OTC Bookstore.

Approved/Current Instructors Expectations

Expectations for Continued Training & Tracked Participation

Instructors deemed approved by OTC via the process outlined in the section above must participate in course specific aspects of OTC’s Educator Conference each year to remain approved. OTC’s Educator Conference serves to support ongoing collegiate interaction and to further enhance approved instructors pedagogy and knowledge in discipline and/or with approved course(s). Attendance is tracked per accreditation standards.

Expectations for Each Semester an OTC Course is Offered 

Per accreditation and OTC expectations, the following items must be submitted by the approved instructor, each semester, for each OTC course offered with enrolled students. 

• Course Verification via myOTC before the previous semester ends – see “Course Verification” in the section below (OTC)
• Roster/Enrollment Verification via myOTC before the enrollment deadline for the semester – see “Roster/Enrollment Verification” in the section below (OTC)
• Syllabus – use of OTC’s syllabus or syllabus deemed equivalent by the OTC Department Chair or Faculty Liaison (Accreditation)
• Course Materials – see section of same name.
• Common Assessment – use of OTC’s common assessment or activity deemed equivalent by the OTC Department Chair or Faculty Liaison (Accreditation)
• Submission of enrolled student’s final letter grades into myOTC (OTC)
• Submission of a gradebook copy (OTC)

Checklists to assist with navigating the process and expectations:

• First Year Instructor Checklist – Fall Only Courses (for approved instructors offering OTC’s educational objectives in the fall semester only)
• First Year Instructor Checklist – Spring & Yearlong Only Courses (for approved instructors offering OTC’s educational objectives as a yearlong or spring semester only course)
• Second Year & Beyond Instructor Checklist – Fall Only Courses (for approved instructors offering OTC’s educational objectives in the fall semester only)
• Second Year & Beyond Checklist – Yearlong & Spring Only Courses (for approved instructors offering OTC’s educational objectives as a yearlong or spring semester only course)

Approved/Current Instructor Resources

• Academic Integrity Resources
• Approved Class(es) by Instructor Name – See School Partners and Courses 
• Add a New Class to the List of Options for Previously Approved/Current Instructors
  • Approved/Current Instructors, who previously completed the process outlined above, may request additional course approvals via the OTC Course Department Chair or Faculty Liaison. Course specific training for these new courses occurs at OTC’s Educator Conference. However, for those instructors approved for a new course in the fall semester, and wish to teach in the spring, the course specific training must occur with the designated faculty liaison prior to offering the course for enrollment. In this other training method, the faculty liaison notifies dualcredit@otc.edu once training is complete for each course for attendance purposes.
• Add a Previously Approved Class for Student Enrollment
  • Approved instructors or their high school liaison can schedule course changes via dualcredit@otc.edu for student enrollment from their list of approved courses.
• Accreditation
• Class Descriptions
• Course Content Specific Questions
  • For course content related inquires, please contact the OTC Department Chair/Liaison of the course (see below).
• Course Verification – How to Confirm Accuracy of Courses Planned at OTC for your High School
  • School Partners and Courses page provides a complete list of eligible courses a specific approved instructor could offer. The approved instructors and/or their high school liaison must ensure the planned course schedule is accurate via myOTC prior to offering the course. (On my.OTC.edu, select “MYOTC LOGIN”, login, then select “Faculty” to verify courses. Select the individual course name to verify enrollments.) Once listed in myOTC, each course will populate for subsequent semesters of the same year (e.g. if an approved instructor has ENG 101 in myOTC for spring of 2020, ENG 101 will populate for spring of 2021 as well). Approved instructors or their high school liaison can schedule course changes via dualcredit@otc.edu for student enrollment from their list of approved courses.
• Department Chair/Liaison of the course.
• Faculty Handbook – OTC
• Faculty Links and Resources
• Faculty Qualifications
• Grades, Final – How to Submit into myOTC
• Information for Instructors, Counselors & Administrators 
• Instructor Handbook – OTC Dual Credit
• Observation Form – Seated/In-Person Instruction
• Observation Form – Online/Remove Instruction
• Roster Verification – How to Confirm Accuracy of Enrolled Students
  • On my.OTC.edu, select “MYOTC LOGIN”, login, then select “Faculty” to verify courses. Select the individual course name to verify enrollments.
• Syllabus Template

For more information about Dual Credit, visit Dual Credit Documents and Links.