To insure that the university employs only fully qualified faculty members, the Chair of the Employing department MUST justify in writing the employment of each full-time or part-time faculty member who lacks at least a master’s degree in the field of instruction, or for graduate instruction, lacks the terminal degree. The justification MUST include all relevant professional training, work experience, and evidence of recognition of competence by peers within the teaching field. The justification letter MUST be supported by external documentation, such as employer references on company or institutional letterhead stationery, awards, prizes, publications, or other recognition of performance in the subject that the faculty member is to teach. The chair’s justification letter MUST be approved by the appropriate dean, and MUST be placed in the official personnel file of the faculty member.