Southeast Missouri State University^TM

Bill 12-A-24 - Adding a New "Student Credit Hour Definition" Section (Approved)

FACULTY SENATE                                 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY  

FACULTY SENATE BILL 12-A-24  

Approved by Faculty Senate
April 11, 2012  

BRIEF SUMMARY:  In response to Federal Statute 34 CFR 600.2, this bill specifies the policy portion of the Student Credit Hour Definition and adds a new section “A” to Chapter 5 of the Faculty Handbook.    

ADDING A NEW “STUDENT CREDIT HOUR DEFINITION” SECTION

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: subject to the passage and approval of both this bill and its companion bill establishing a corresponding “procedures” section, Chapter 5, Section A of the Faculty Handbook be added with the following “policy” section.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: exiting sections of Chapter 5 be re-lettered to reflect the addition.

Student Credit Hour Definition Policy

Southeast Missouri State University defines a credit hour as follows (adapted from Federal Statute 34 CFR 600.2):

An amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:  

1.   One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of  out-of-class student work each week for fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or  

2.   At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.  

Application to Various Course Types  

In accordance with this definition and with State of Missouri standards, this definition is applied to the various types of course offerings at Southeast Missouri State University in this manner:    

For private lessons, lecture, workshop, and lab, the time requirements refer to time with direct instructor supervision.  Internship time may include any combination of time supervised by approved experts outside the institution, time supervised by an instructor, or independent work with a product evaluated by an instructor.  

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