FR 4.9 The institution has policies and procedures for determining the credit hours awarded for courses and programs that conform to commonly accepted practices in higher education and Commission policy. (See Commission policy “Credit Hours”) (Definition of credit hours)
In Compliance
Shenandoah University policy on determining credit hours is guided by the State Higher Commission on Education in Virginia (SCHEV), which defines a credit hour as “a unit of measure representing an hour (50 minutes) of instruction over a 15‐week period in a semester or trimester system or a 10‐week period in a quarter system,” (SCHEV definition) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) “Credit Hours” policy statement (SACSCOC definition).
Accordingly, Shenandoah University policy states:
Credit Hour
A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that reasonably approximates:
1. For a traditional, face-to-face lecture class, not less than one contact hour (50 minutes) of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work, including but not limited to reading, studying, conducting research, writing, performance practicing, rehearsals, and other learning activities, each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required outlined in item 1 above for other academic activities as established by the institution including distance education, lab and lecture/lab, tutorial, seminar, independent study, thesis, studio, internships/practica, student teaching, clinical, physical education, discussion/quiz/recitation and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. For face-to-face lecture classes, this shall equate to a minimum of 750 minutes of classroom contact, including final exams, per credit per semester. (Undergraduate Catalog p. 31 and Graduate Catalog p.26)
University policy reinforces the final exam requirement by stating, “The final examination period is part of the instructional time of the semester. If no final examination is administered, the time will be used for other educational activities for the members of the class.”(Graduate Catalog p. 51 and Undergraduate Catalog p. 33).
Since most face-to-face classes at the university are for 3 credits, the calendar is built around three 50-minute, two 75-minute, or one 150-minute class sessions per week and a required 150-minute final exam period for a total minimum of 2250 minutes of contact time. The University Cabinet approves calendars on a three-year basis with holidays and other scheduled breaks factored in to insure the minimum classroom contact time. Copies of the current calendar and the next three calendar years are attached.
In addition, the registrar’s office provides guidelines for meeting classroom contact requirements in scheduling classes that do not conform to the 15-week semester schedule. This applies most specifically to the summer term. These guidelines also provide guidance on the maximum number of credits that students are permitted to take based on total expected activity hours. A copy of these guidelines is attached.
Furthermore, to insure the integrity of classroom contact time, the university has adopted the following policies and procedure with regard to campus closure:
Rescheduling Coursework in the Event of a Campus Closure (Faculty Handbook 4.15.6.6)
In the event of a campus closure, causing faculty to miss contact hours, faculty have several options:
1. Faculty may hold class during the scheduled time for make-up that appears with the closure notice or within another mutually defined time through consultation with the deans/directors. Faculty should follow their standard attendance policy.
2. Faculty may reorganize their syllabus to absorb content and classroom work through regularly scheduled classes.
3. Faculty may use digital means to hold class, either synchronously through teleconferencing, chatting or discussion boards; or asynchronously through Blackboard course management system, web pages or some other means. Faculty should follow their standard attendance policy and make allowances to complete work at a later date if students do not have access to the Internet.
4. Faculty may offer an assignment in replacement of the contact hours. These assignments could include quizzes, papers, podcasts, research assignments, etc.
Rescheduling Exams in the Event of a Campus Closure During Final’s Week (Faculty Handbook 4.15.6.7)
In the event of a campus closure during the week of finals, faculty have several options:
1. Faculty may offer students the option to take the final either on the date for make- up that appears in the closure notice or within another mutually defined time through consultation with the dean/director to be no later than the add/drop period of the following semester. The university will follow the schedule as outlined for the day it closed. Faculty will have to coordinate with their department to find exam locations for returning students who wish to take the exam at the beginning of term.
2. Faculty may offer the exam as a take-home exam or use distance-learning means to have the students submit their final work (i.e. online exams through Blackboard, podcasts of performance or presentations, web page creations, power point presentations, etc.).
3. Faculty may change the final exam assignment to something that can be done through digital means, such as a paper or a podcast.
4. Faculty may offer their classes the option of reassigning different weights to already completed coursework (e.g. quizzes, exams, papers, portfolios, projects, presentations, etc.), thereby forgoing the final. However, if a student wants to take a final exam, faculty must grant that request. (Undergraduate Catalog, pp. 51-2, Graduate Catalog, p. 33).
Nearly all current distance education offerings at Shenandoah University are online versions of courses originally developed for face-to-face delivery. The content and workload expectations remain unchanged although delivery format is changed to fit online modalities.
The amount of credit awarded for each course is determined during the process of course creation and review. New and revised courses must be approved in the originating school or division, at the university level, by the University Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate, and by the Vice President for Academic Affairs before they are added to the university course list. The new course and revised course proposal process is rigorous and Section 2 Course Rationale, #15 “What is the rationale for the number of credit hours assigned?” of the (New Course Proposal Form) ensures that courses meet credit hour standards. Attachment 1 includes a recently approved new course proposal form by way of documentation of the process.
Supporting Documentation
SCHEV Definition
SACSCOC Definition
Academic Calendar 2014-2015
Academic Calendar 2015-2016
Academic Calendar 2016-2017
Academic Calendar 2017-2018
Undergraduate Catalog p. 31, 51, 51-52
Graduate Catalog p. 26, 33
Attachment 1: New Course Proposal Form example
Faculty Handbook 4.15.6.6 Re-scheduling Coursework in the event of campus closure
Faculty Handbook 4.15.6.7: Re-scheduling exams in the event of campus closure