Note: Course contact time is established in compliance with the federal definition in NECHE’s Policy on Credits and Degrees. NECHE has adopted the federal definition of a credit hour: an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and 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.

In determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, the institution may take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.

At the time of the Comprehensive Evaluation, the Commission will review the institution’s policies and procedures for determining the credit hours that the institution awards for courses and programs and how those policies and procedures are applied to the institution’s programs and coursework. As part of its review, using sampling or other methods, the team will make a reasonable determination of whether the institution’s assignment of credit hours conforms to commonly accepted practice in higher education and will include the findings in their report.

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