Policy: Credit and Instructional Contact Hours for Courses

Document Number: 1.019
Title: Credit and Instructional Contact Hours for Courses
Effective Date: 5/16/2018
Revised Date: 6/13/2024; 9/25/2018

General Policy 

Policy Statement 

Consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education, River Parishes Community College (RPCC or the College) adheres to the definition of a credit hour in Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §600.2, in accordance with the Credit Hour Policy of the College’s accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  Additionally, RPCC determines instructional contact hours according to the definition of a clock hour for establishing instructional contact time for courses and programs.  Finally, RPCC recognizes the definition of academic engagement in federal regulations when offering courses via distance education modalities. 

Policy Definitions 

A credit hour is an amount of student work represented in intended learning outcomes 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 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. 

An instructional contact hour is a verifiable period of time consisting of a 50- to 60-minute class, lecture, or recitation in a 60-minute period or a 50- to 60-minute faculty-supervised laboratory, shop training, or internship in a 60-minute period.  In distance education, an instructional contact hour is a verifiable period of time consisting of 50 to 60 minutes in a 60-minute period of attendance in (a) a synchronous or asynchronous class, lecture, or recitation where there is opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students; or (b) an asynchronous learning activity involving academic engagement in which the student interacts with technology that can monitor and document the amount of time that the student participates in the activity.  

Academic engagement is the active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student's course of study that includes, but is not limited to: 

• attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students;  
• submitting an academic assignment; 
• taking an assessment or an exam; 
• participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction; 
• participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution; or 
• interacting with an instructor about academic matters. 

Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation is not considered academic engagement. 

In accordance with federal guidelines, RPCC awards one credit to students for satisfactory completion of one 50-minute session of classroom instruction for a minimum of three hours of work per week for a semester of not less than fifteen weeks. 

Examples of Implementation of Policy Definitions 

• Lecture Classes – A semester credit hour consists of the equivalent of at least one hour (50-minute period) per week of “instructional contact” time in-class and two hours per week of out of class student work for fifteen weeks. A three-semester credit hour lecture course meets for a minimum of forty-five contact hours per semester plus a minimum average of six hours of activities outside of the classroom per week for fifteen weeks. 
• Laboratory Classes, Instructor- or Proctor-supervised skills-training courses or components of lecture-lab courses – One semester credit hour consists of the equivalent of two to three hours of laboratory, clinical, studio, shop, or other skills-related work per week for fifteen weeks. 
• One internship, practicum, or work-based activity semester credit hour is at least forty-five hours of supervised work for fifteen weeks.  The total number of hours is determined by the requirements set forth by each program and/or programmatic accrediting agency. 
• For classes offered in a shortened format, the hours are prorated so that classes contain the same total number of hours as if the classes were scheduled for a full fifteen-week semester. 

The responsibility of protecting the academic integrity of curricula, programs, and class schedules rests with Faculty, Division Coordinators (direct supervisor(s) of Faculty - e.g., Department Chair and/or Dean), and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. RPCC may adjust its basic measure for awarding academic credit proportionately to adjust for variations in academic calendars or in formats of study or delivery only if it meets the aforementioned definitions. 

Policy Administration 

• Periodically, the Division Coordinators and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs will review the policy and forward recommendations to the Leadership Team. 
• Course developers will ensure that the required quantity of student learning per credit is the equivalent to a minimum of forty-five hours of coursework over a fifteen-week semester through instructional activities that address and demonstrate student competencies in define learning outcomes. Instructional activities should draw upon practices approved by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. 
• The Registrar will assist the Division Coordinators with scheduling of classes in accordance with the RPCC semester credit hour policy each semester. 
• Classes that meet for more than 75 minutes consecutively will schedule a ten-minute break for each 75-minute segment. 
• Prior to beginning student registration, the Registrar will deliver an official system (Banner) report to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs verifying that all proposed class schedules meet the College’s policy. 
• If class schedules do not meet the College’s policy requirements, the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs will direct the Faculty to coordinate with the Division Coordinators to adjust class schedules to conform. 
• The Registrar posts the policy to the website and includes it in the catalog. 

Policy-Related Information 

• Credit Hours Policy Statement, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) 
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, §600.2, Definitions