Document No. ACA-1020
Revision No. 2502 on Feb 1, 2025
1. Purpose
This policy provides general guidelines for faculty and administrators
in determining the number of credits awarded for Richmindale courses.
This policy requires oversight by persons academically qualified to make necessary judgements.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all Richmindale curriculum development teams, faculty, administrators, and students.
3. Policy
3.1.
This policy conforms with the DEAC Part 3, Section F, Academic Units of Measurement,
DEAC Accreditation Handbook, page 77 requirement that institutions document policies
and procedures used to define the chosen academic unit of measurement.
Academic units are measured by either clock hours or credit hours.
This policy also complies with the definitions of distance education, clock hours,
credit hours, and other related terms used in this policy as described in Title 34 of CFR.
3.2.
Richmindale College uses credit hours as the academic unit of measurement for its online courses and programs.
3.3.
Richmindale College has subject matter experts (SMEs), with the right academic qualifications and experience, who develop its programs, courses, syllabi, and other course materials. During course development, the SMEs analyze and identify the number of one-hour meetings based on learning requirements through face-to-face classes or direct faculty instructions, and coursework activities, which are considered as credit hours equivalent, in a 15-week semester course, considering additional two hours of out-of-class work for each one-hour meeting based on Carnegie unit. The classes or lectures, recitations, oral presentations, projects, research, and coursework activities fulfill the requirements of credit hours based on its definition in 34 CFR 600.2(1), and the number of one-hour meetings that correspond to each of these activities is the basis of the credits awarded in an online course.
Since Richmindale College uses the distance learning format, the one-hour face-to-face meetings between instructors and students happen online, primarily using videoconferencing software applications through the Internet.
The standard course activities of each Richmindale College course that contribute to its credits are as follows:
Course Activity
Award
Online face-to-face class/lecture.
Student performance measures include formative assessments, competency-based assessments, and discussion boards.
1 credit/hour
Use of instructional materials such as videos, audios, books, articles, software applications, and other materials provided by instructors:
»
50- to 60-minute video (can be accumulated); and
»
Online quiz related to the topics covered in the instructional materials.
Student performance measures include quizzes.
1 credit/hour
Guided practical work exposure through actual and/or simulated work activities.
Students are assigned to actual and/or simulated jobs, attend meetings, and are given work assignments related to the job and the course. Student performance measures include the evaluation of deliverables and outputs of their meeting engagements, assignments, and contributions.
1 credit/hour
Recitations, oral presentations, and/or demonstrations.
Students are given topics to study and recite or present to the class online using presentation and other software tools. Student performance measures include formative assessments, competency-based assessments, and discussion boards.
1 credit/hour
Submission of individual and group projects.
Students are given projects related to the course. Student performance measures include competency-based assessments and the evaluation of project outputs.
1 credit/hour
Submission of written articles (deliverables) such as research, case studies, thesis, whitepapers, journals, blogs, and wikis.
Students are given topics for research, case studies, thesis, whitepapers, journals, blogs, and wikis. Student performance measures include the evaluation of deliverables and outputs.
1 credit/hour
Participation in discussion boards initiated by instructors:
»
Posting of sensible content about a topic in a course to be scored by instructors.
1 credit/hour
4. Definitions and Abbreviations
4.1.
Clock hour (34 CFR 600.2).
Clock hour, as defined in 34 CFR 600.2, is a period of time consisting of:
(1)
A 50- to 60-minute class, lecture, or recitation in a 60-minute period;
(2)
A 50- to 60-minute faculty-supervised laboratory, shop training, or internship in a 60-minute period; or
(3)
Sixty minutes of preparation in a correspondence course.
4.2.
Correspondence course (34 CFR 600.2).
Correspondence course is defined in 34 CFR 600.2 as:
(1)
A course provided by an institution under which the institution provides instructional materials, by mail or electronic transmission, including examinations on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor. Interaction between the instructor and student is limited, is not regular and substantive, and is primarily initiated by the student. Correspondence courses are typically self-paced.
(2)
If a course is part correspondence and part residential training, the Secretary considers the course to be a correspondence course.
(3)
A correspondence course is not distance education.
4.3.
Credit hour (34 CFR 600.2).
Credit hour, as defined in 34 CFR 600.2, is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally 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 semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter 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 as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
5. References
5.1.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
5.2.
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) Accreditation Handbook.