Employment of academically unqualified faculty

Any individual engaged in a teaching relationship who does not meet the qualifications in section 54-03.2-04-03, 54-03.2-04-04, or 54-03.2-04-04.1 is considered academically unqualified faculty regardless of the title assigned by the institution. A program may receive continued approval with faculty who do not meet the educational requirements in section 54-03.2-04-03, 54-03.2-04-04, or 54-03.2-04-04.1 in the following circumstances: 1. The program maintains full approval by the board and the administrator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that substantial effort was used to recruit a candidate with the required credentials, and the candidate is currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree program offered by an accredited institution and can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board a specific plan of completion within four years of hire for the master's degree or seven years for a doctorate degree; and a. The administrator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board that eighty-five percent of the program's nursing faculty full-time equivalents have the required degree; or b. A program with faculty of seven or fewer members will have no more than a total of one nursing faculty full-time equivalent held by an unqualified individual; 2. The board may extend the time allowed for the candidate to complete the degree by one year due to severe extenuating circumstances; or 3. Other circumstances as approved by the board. 4. A program with faculty holding less than a baccalaureate degree in nursing shall not be approved.