These guidelines establish a uniform College-wide practice on the assignment of credit hours to the institution’s courses, and the best practice models were developed by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). These guidelines apply to all credit-bearing courses offered at Zane State College.

Zane State College will comply with Federal and State guidelines by assigning academic credit according to the acceptable practices approved by the Higher Learning Commission and the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

A.Definitions

1. Higher Learning Commission: The regional accrediting body, as authorized by the USDE, accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in 19 states including Ohio.
2. Ohio Department of Higher Education: Under the direction of the Chancellor, the cabinet- level agency for the Governor of the State of Ohio, provides oversight for all institutions

of higher education in the state. The department authorizes and approves new degree programs, manages state-funded financial aid programs, and develops and advocates for policy related to higher education in the state.

1. Credit Hour: A minimum of 750 minutes (semester credit hours) or 500 minutes (quarter credit hour) of formalized instruction that typically requires students to work at out-of-class assignments an average of twice the amount of time as the amount of formalized instruction. Credit hours may be calculated differently for other types of instruction (e.g., laboratory experiences, directed practice experience, practicum experience, cooperative work experience, field experience, observation experiences, seminar, and studio experience) as long as the credit hour calculations align with commonly accepted practices in higher education and with the regulations of regional accreditors and the federal financial aid program. (ODHE, Guidelines & Procedures for Academic Program Review, April 2015, p.53.)
2. United States Department of Education: A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutional-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 approximately fifteen weeks for one (1) semester or trimester hour of credit;
   2. Or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit
   3. Or the equivalent amount of work.

B.Assignment of Credit Hours for Lecture Courses

One (1) semester credit hour will be awarded for a minimum of 750 minutes (one 50-minute hour per week for 15 weeks) of formalized instruction that typically requires students to work at out-of- class assignments an average of two hours for every hour of formalized instruction. The instructor bears the primary responsibility for formalized instruction that may be delivered in a variety of modes such as traditional face-to-face, hybrid, and distance education.

C.Assignment of Credit Hours for Laboratory Courses

Each Zane State College laboratory course utilizes one of the following two formats:

1. The ideal configuration for a laboratory component of a course will maintain a two to one contact to credit ratio premised on the expectation of one additional hour of outside preparation by the students. One (1) semester credit hour will be awarded for a minimum of 1,500 minutes (two 50-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) of laboratory instruction time for a semester with an additional 750 minutes of out of class assignments.
2. A laboratory component of a course can follow a three to one contact to credit ratio premised on the expectation of no additional time required outside preparation by the students. One (1) semester credit hour will be awarded for a minimum of 2,250 minutes (three 50-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) of laboratory instructional time for a semester.

D.Assignment of Credit Hours for All other Credit-bearing Course Configuration:

1. Clinical Laboratory Experience: Credit hours for the clinical laboratory experience will follow a three to one contact to credit ratio premised on the expectation of no additional time required outside preparation by the students.

1. Directed Practice: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for 4,500 minutes (five 60- minute hours per week over 15 weeks) of directed practice instructional time for a semester.
2. Practicum: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for 6,300 minutes (seven 60-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) of practicum instructional time for a semester. A maximum of nine (9) semester credit hours may be earned in practicum, or any combination of practicum and cooperative work experience, over the associate degree program.
3. Seminar: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for a minimum of 750 minutes. A seminar is a less formal educational experience than a classroom/lecture/discussion class.
4. Cooperative Work Experience: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for a total of 9,000 minutes (ten 60-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) of cooperative work experience instructional time for a semester. A maximum of nine (9) semester credit hours may be earned in cooperative work experience, or any combination of cooperative work experience and practicum, over the course of the associate degree program.
5. Field Experience: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for a total of 10,800 minutes (twelve 60-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) field experience instructional time for a semester. A maximum of nine (9) semester credit hours may be earned in field experience, or any combination of field experience, cooperative work experience and practicum, over the course of the associate degree program.
6. Observational Experience: One (1) credit hour shall be awarded for a total of 13,500 minutes (fifteen 60-minute hours per week over 15 weeks) observation instructional time for a semester.

E.Compressed Terms

Zane State College offers eight- and twelve-week terms during the year resulting in compressed formats for courses delivered. Minimum instructional times remain unchanged but the instructional hours per week will be appropriately increased, as will the out of class assignment time, to maintain the same amount of instruction for each unit of credit awarded. Intended learning outcomes as verified by evidence of student achievement will not change regardless of the modified number of weeks within a term.

F.References

The Higher Learning Commission (August 2016)

Policy Title: Assignment of Credits, Program Length, and Tuition, FDCR.A10.020 http://download.hlcommission.org/policy/HLCPolicyBook_POL.pdf

The Higher Learning Commission (April 2017)

Preparing for the Credit Hour Review: What You Need to Know to Be Ready!, Karen Peterson Solinski presentation at Annual Conference.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education (July 2016)

Guidelines and Procedures for Academic Program Review. https://www.ohiohighered.org/sites/ohiohighered.org/files/uploads/program-approval/Academic- Program-Review-Guidelines_070516.pdf

Updated: April 2019 - no changes made for bachelor’s degree