Policies

Campus Policy for Assignment of Credit Hours

Policy Purpose

All credit‐bearing degree and certificate programs at Farmingdale State College are approved by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Calculation of credit hours for these programs follows NYSED guidelines, which are consistent with the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a credit hour and reflect the State University of New York (SUNY) Credit/Contact Hour Policy.

The State University of New York (University), like most American higher education, has adopted a variant of the traditional “Carnegie Unit” as a measure of academic credit. This unit is known in the University by the familiar term, “semester credit hour”, and is the primary academic measure by which progress toward a degree is gauged. It is recognized that such a unit measures only a part of a composite learning experience, based upon formally structured and informal interactions among faculty and students. As part of the State University of New York, Farmingdale State College abides by the Credit/Contact Hour Policy (document number 1305) of the State University of New York, which is in compliance with policies set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Persons Affected

Faculty, Staff, Students

Policy Statement

In accordance with the SUNY Policy, the semester credit hour has been defined as one 50 minute session of instruction per week including two hours of out‐of‐class preparation by the student for a semester of not less than fifteen weeks. This basic measure may be adjusted to reflect modified academic calendars and formats of study. On‐line and hybrid courses and other formats of learning should contain the same amount of academic activity as provided in a traditional setting and in accordance with the credits assigned. Although the SUNY Board of Trustees or their representatives retain final control and approval of the curriculum, the faculty and program administrators are responsible for developing, maintaining and evaluating the curriculum within an academic program. Assignment of credit hours for courses is determined within the program based on faculty expertise and course learning objectives. Existing courses will be evaluated for adherence to the federal credit hour regulation during the curriculum review process. Faculty, administrators and external evaluators will ensure that all courses are in compliance. New courses will, upon review and approval at the program level, be reviewed by the College Wide Curriculum Committee and recommended for approval or denial. The College Wide Curriculum Committee is charged with following the FSC Policy on the Assignment of Credit Hours in their review and approval of all courses and curricula and for certifying that the expected student learning for the courses meets the credit hour standard. Approved courses are sent to the Office of the Registrar for inclusion in the College Catalog and posted to the Degree Audit System. The Office of the Registrar reviews the class schedules prior to the start of each semester to ensure that all classes are scheduled for the minimum number of minutes corresponding to the credits assigned, or otherwise notes when course schedules do not match assigned credit hours. Any discrepancies are brought to the attention of the appropriate department for correction or explanation. The following provides general guidance on the credit hour translation to particular instructional methods.

Procedures

Lecture and Seminar: Courses with multiple students which meet to engage in various forms of group interaction under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

Laboratories: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member where the student performs work in a laboratory setting. The minimum contact time is typically twice that of a lecture (2:1 ratio)

Clinical Sessions: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member when the student performs work in a clinical setting. The minimum contact time per credit is typically three times that of a lecture (3‐1 ratio).

Definitions

Asynchronous: Web Based Instruction in which the communication does not take place at the same time; examples include private mail and bulletin boards.

Carnegie Unit:Time based reference for measuring education attainment used by American universities and colleges; the Carnegie Unit assesses secondary school attainment, and the student hour, derived from the Carnegie Unit, assesses collegiate attainment.

Credit Hour: Also known as the Student Hour or Semester Credit Hour, is approximately 1/10 of the Carnegie Unit and equivalent to one hour (50 minutes) of instruction for a single student per week over the course of a 14‐16 week semester, including two‐hours of out‐of‐class preparation by the student. (Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, Title 8 – Education Department)

Hybrid Course: A course that is delivered in a physical classroom (face‐to‐face) and through the institution supported course management system. This blended format reduces face to face time by incorporating an online component. The web delivered components meet best practice standards used for online courses and achieve learning while reducing the amount of classroom time. See FSC Distance Learning Policy INSERT LINK)

Independent Study: Study which is given initial guidance, criticism, review and final evaluation of student performance by a faculty member.

Online Course: A course that is delivered exclusively on‐line, through the institution supported course management system, where students access instructions, instructor’s office, all course materials (lectures, assignments, resources, etc.), submit assignments for grading, and communicate via email, discussions, and/or chats with the instructor and other students. Online classes have 100% of the content delivered through the electronic means. Examinations and other student work submitted for grading or evaluation by the instructor are either conducted online or administered in proctored facilities accessible by all students registered for the online course.

Short Sessions: Short sessions include summer sessions and intersessions as well as accelerated schedules.

Synchronous: Web Based Instruction in which communication is simultaneous. Examples include chat rooms, two‐way interactive voice chat and interactive video.

Tutorial Study: Study which is given initial faculty guidance followed by repeated, regularly scheduled individual student conferences with a faculty member, and periodic as well as final evaluation of student performance.

Assignment of Credit Hours
Guideline Tables

Lecture and Seminar: Courses with multiple students which meet to engage in various forms of group interaction under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

Lectures and Seminars: Classroom/ Faculty Instruction and Outside Student Work
Credits awarded	Minimum Contact time per week	Minimum instructional time Total for 15 Weeks (Contact time X Weeks)	Minimum Out of Class Student Work per week
1	50 contact minutes	750 contact minutes	100 minutes
2	100 contact minutes	1500 contact minutes	200 minutes
3	150 contact minutes	2250 contact minutes	300 minutes
4	200 contact minutes	3000 contact minutes	400 minutes

Laboratories: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member where the student performs work in a laboratory setting. The minimum contact time is typically twice that of a lecture (2:1 ratio)

Laboratory : Classroom/faculty Interaction and Outside Student Work
Credits Awarded	Minimum Contact time per week	Minimum instructional time Total for 15 Weeks (Contact time X Weeks)	Minimum Out of Class Student Work per week
1	100 contact minutes	1500 contact minutes	50 minutes
2	200 contact minutes	3000 contact minutes	100 minutes
3	300 contact minutes	4500 contact minutes	150 minutes
4	400 contact minutes	6000 contact minutes	200 minutes

Clinical Sessions: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member when the student performs work in a clinical setting. The minimum contact time per credit is typically three times that of a lecture (3-1 ratio).

Clinical Sessions : Classroom/faculty Interaction and Outside Student Work
Credits Awarded	Minimum Contact time per week	Minimum instructional time Total for 15 Weeks (Contact time X Weeks)	Minimum Out of Class Student Work per week
1	150 contact minutes	2250 contact minutes	0 minutes
2	300 contact minutes	4500 contact minutes	0 minutes
3	450 contact minutes	6750 contact minutes	0 minutes
4	600 contact minutes	9000 contact minutes	0 minutes

Responsible Office

Office of the Provost

Policy History

Effective Date: June 4, 2015