The Business Department tracks its enrollment and course section offerings very closely. We try to adjust to what students need and be aware of trends. The Business Department currently has 8 programs and certificates.  The Business Department has experienced six FT faculty retirements (three in spring 2019 and three in spring 2021).  We have hired one replacement in Fall 2019 to teach Business Law classes. We hired one replacement in Fall 2022 to teach general business courses (although two were approved). We had an additional ACCOUNTING faculty member retire in spring 2023.

In fall 2024 we faced an emergency situation where a FTTT Accounting faculty member was out on medical leave mid-semester.  Replacement proved challenging since this is a professional discipline and most with this expertise work during the day and cannot adjunct. There are two accounting courses in each degree program, and more than two in the two accounting degree programs. ACC 153 Financial Accounting is a gateway course in the first semester of the curriculum for all Business degree programs. All course sections were full in Fall 2023 before the semester began and Advising requested more sections.  This could not be accommodated because we only have two FTTT Accounting faculty with the discipline expertise. Both of the faculty members are close to retirement (within the next few years).

ACBSP ACCREDITATION STANDARD 5: FACULTY AND STAFF FOCUS The ability of a business unit to effectively fulfill its mission and meet its objectives is dependent upon the quality, number, and deployment of the faculty and staff. Each business unit: (1) develops and implements policies and plans that ensure an excellent faculty, including a staffing plan that matches faculty credentials and characteristics with program objectives, (2) evaluates the faculty based on defined criteria and objectives, (3) provides opportunities for faculty development and ensures scholarly productivity to support department and individual faculty development plans and program objectives; and (4) fosters an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning.                                     

STANDARD 5 Criterion 5.2 is where faculty credentials are addressed. From their document is states - Criterion 5.2 Faculty Qualifications Employee qualifications and credentials are a critical foundation for business success. Qualified faculty must teach all class sections taught within the business unit. Faculty qualifications in the business unit are defined as Master’s or Doctorate Degree Qualified, Professionally Qualified, or as Exceptions. A Master’s or Doctorate Degree Qualified faculty member meets at least one of the following criteria: (The institution must provide documentation) 1. Doctorate in teaching field 2. Juris Doctorate— qualified to teach law courses 4. MBA—The MBA is the qualified master's degree in the teaching field for business management and marketing degrees. The MBA is also the master’s qualification to teach any introductory or principle level business unit courses (for example, entry level accounting, economics, software applications, finance, intro to computers, etc.). 5. MED —The Master's in Education with a concentration in a business discipline is the master's degree in the teaching field for office administration. 6. Related or out-of-field master’s or doctorate degree with 18 semester/27 quarter credit hours or equivalent of courses in field beyond the introductory principles level

The Business Department Goals 1 & 2 are most impacted by not replacing the retired FT faculty members. These goals further tie into the Programming Theme of the Academic Master Plan and 2.1 & 2.3 of the College’s Strategic Plan.