FEPAC Call for Comments
Changes to FEPAC Accreditation Standards 2009

Pursuant to the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) Policies & Procedures, 3.12 Substantive Change, the Commission must give constituents an opportunity to comment on any changes prior to recommending the adoption of those changes to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Board of Directors; therefore, I invite you to comment on the following changes.  Changes are noted by bolded and underlined text.  Send your comments to Nancy J. Jackson (njackson@aafs.org).

Standard 4.5 Faculty:
The program faculty shall be able to support fully the program's mission, goals, and objectives. Specifically, program faculty members and other instructional personnel in the program shall be appropriately qualified, by education and experience, and adequate in number to implement the instructional program. In addition, the number of program faculty members shall be sufficient to ensure the offering, on a regular basis, of the full range of courses needed for the degree program.

At least 50 percent of the full-time program faculty teaching in the undergraduate forensic science program shall have an appropriate doctoral degree; program faculty members with working experience in a forensic science laboratory are preferred. Program faculty includes any faculty who teaches a forensic science course or a support course designed specifically for the program. The scientific and educational capabilities of the program faculty should be appropriate to the major areas of the program.

Full-time program faculty members shall oversee all coursework and ensure its applicability to the program's mission, goals, and objectives.

The program shall have well-defined policies and procedures to recruit, appoint, and promote qualified program faculty, to evaluate the competence and performance of program faculty, and to support the professional development and advancement of program faculty.

Standard 5.5 Faculty:
The program faculty shall be able to fully support the program's mission, goals, and objectives. Specifically, program faculty members and other instructional personnel in the program shall be appropriately qualified, by education and experience, and adequate in number to implement the instructional program. In addition, the number of program faculty members shall be sufficient to ensure the offering, on a regular basis, of the full range of courses needed for the degree program.

All full-time program faculty teaching forensic science courses in the forensic science program must have at least a Master's degree; at least 50 percent of the full-time program faculty teaching forensic science courses in the forensic science program must have an appropriate doctoral degree. Program faculty includes any faculty member who teaches a forensic science course or a support course designed specifically for the program. The scientific and educational capabilities of the program faculty should be appropriate to the major areas of the program.

Full-time program faculty members shall oversee all coursework and ensure its applicability to the program's mission, goals, and objectives.

The program shall have well-defined policies and procedures to recruit, appoint, and promote qualified program faculty, to evaluate the competence and performance of program faculty, and to support the professional development and advancement of program faculty.