Walsh Credit Hour Policy and Credit Hour Policy Guidelines

Abstract

The Walsh Credit Hour Policy is being updated to comply with The U.S. Department of Education federal credit hour definition which specifies one credit hour is equivalent to 15 hours of direct faculty instruction and 30 hours of independent, out-of-class work. Therefore, a three-credit hour class is comprised of 45 hours of direct faculty instruction (or its equivalent) and 90 hours of independent, out-of-class work. In addition, The Higher Learning Commission Assumed Practices states “the institution’s assignment and award of credit hours shall conform to commonly accepted practices in higher education. Those institutions seeking, or participating in Title IV federal financial aid, shall demonstrate that they have policies determining the credit hours awarded.” The former Credit Hour Policy was based on semester length. Despite any difference in term length, the total amount of time spent in direct instruction (or equivalent) must meet the Federal credit hour definition. Walsh’s current policy defines that each class must meet for 80 minutes for one credit, and 240 minutes for three credit hours in the 11 week semester. At three hours and 50 minutes ( or 230 minutes) per week, Walsh’s three credit hour classes fall below its own policy as well as the Federal guidelines.

In fall 2019, then President Kelliher as part of our ACBSP reaffirmation and in consultation with the then EVP and Chief Academic Officer, AVP, Institutional Research and Director, Online Learning revised the Credit Hour Policy to reflect 45 hours and comply with federal credit hour definitions. However, the change was not brought forward to the Curriculum Committee or Faculty Senate for formal approval.

The revised Credit Hour Policy complies with U.S. Department of Education federal credit hour definition, where one credit hour is equivalent to 15 hours of direct faculty instruction and 30 hours of independent, out-of-class work. Therefore, a three-credit hour class is comprised of 45 hours of direct faculty instruction (or its equivalent) and 90 hours of independent, out-of-class work. These standards apply to undergraduate and graduate level courses regardless of the amount of weeks the course runs or delivery method.

The Policy further clarifies and defines what constitutes “direct faculty instruction” and “homework” and has been updated to include all delivery modalities. Furthermore, the Policy also details how Walsh’s “workload calculator” is used to verify online instructional parity to parallel on-ground instruction and ensure content meets quality standards of delivery.