Becoming Part of PACC
High schools wishing to offer PACC courses should contact the PACC office to discuss specific guidelines, curriculum and credentialing requirements, and course expectations. The designated high school administrator should complete the Participation Agreement and the Prospective Inquirant Form.
New schools seeking participation will need to complete the process outlined here.
The PACC office will initially screen syllabi and instructors. The request will then be sent to the department chairs for approval, with final approval from the Academic Dean.
Requirements
To be eligible to instruct PACC courses at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, instructors must be qualified based on academic credentials and preparedness. A master’s degree in the discipline of the course being taught satisfies the academic credentials requirement. Alternatively, a master’s degree in a different field, along with an adequate combination of graduate coursework in the discipline and professional experience in the content field suffices.
Internal Discussion
Host an internal discussion with all relevant colleagues (department chairs, guidance counselors, curriculum directors, and other necessary administrators from your high school) to discuss your school’s interest in the Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) and your ability to meet PACC guidelines and expectations. Complete a copy of the PACC Participation Agreement and PACC Annual Program Docket.
Contact PACC Director
Contact the PACC Director to discuss specific PACC guidelines, curriculum and credentialing requirements, and course expectations. Request from the PACC office current syllabi used by Saint Mary’s faculty for the interested courses.
Model Courses
Review the Saint Mary’s University course syllabi, comparing them to the corresponding high school courses. Then, begin the task of modeling your courses so that they match the Saint Mary’s University course standards as listed in our syllabi. Format your course syllabus according to the Saint Mary’s University template.
Complete Participation Agreement
Complete and submit the PACC Participation Agreement and PACC Annual Program Docket. These documents will be provided by the Director of Early College Programs following review and discussion with the partner high school administration.
As part of the submission, list the Saint Mary’s courses you wish to teach, along with the corresponding high school course titles and instructor names. Include a syllabus that aligns with the Common Course Syllabus Format, sample tests or evaluation projects, and copies of the instructor’s undergraduate and graduate transcripts.