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2024-2025 Student Handbook & University Policies 
    
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2024-2025 Student Handbook & University Policies

Definition Of A Credit Hour Policy AS.002

POLICY NUMBER: AS.002 

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12/14/2015 

INITIAL APPROVAL DATE: 12/14/2015 

REVISION DATE: 6/26/2025 

REVISION APPROVAL DATE: 07/27/25

PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to formally define a credit hour in accordance with accepted higher education standards and federal guidelines, ensuring consistency in instructional time and student workload across all course formats 

SCOPE: All Students (COC&CGUS) of Life University. This policy applies to all academic programs and course formats at Life University, including face-to-face, hybrid, online, and accelerated courses, as well as independent studies, internships, and clinical experiences. 

APPROVAL AUTHORITY: President 

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY: Academics

ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY: N/A

RECIPIENTS: N/A 

PUBLICATIONS: N/A

DEFINITIONS: 

Carnegie Unit – a system that bases the awarding of academic credit on how much time students spend in direct contact with the instructor. One unit is equal to 50 minutes. 

Council for Higher Education Accreditation – organization that advocates for academic quality through accreditation. 

Hybrid Course – a course that blends online learning and in-person instruction. 

Accelerated Course – a course that allows students to complete in less time than a traditional course. 

POLICY TITLE

 Definition Of A Credit Hour Policy 

POLICY STATEMENT 

A credit hour is a standard measure of the amount of instructional time required to successfully complete a course and is formally defined to conform to accepted practices in higher education and keeping with federal guidelines. The office of the Chief Academic Officer is responsible for the establishment and approval of program credit hour assignments and equivalencies. 

Life University’s credit hour definition is consistent with the Carnegie unit and The Council for Higher Education Accreditation and is defined as follows: 

A credit hour 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: 

  1. For a face-to-face delivered course, the amount of time spent per week on scheduled activities will determine the credit hour calculation. 
  2. Minimum requirements to meet credit hour compliance include:
    • One lecture quarter credit hour is equal to 11 contact hours in the course. 
    • One laboratory quarter credit hour is equal to 22 contact hours in the course. 
    • One clinical quarter credit hour in professional programs is equal to 22 contact hours in the course.
      • Additional clinical work is expected in professional programs to meet either patient or clinic needs and as directed by clinician of record. 
    • Online courses, hybrid, or accelerated modes of delivery will demonstrate equivalent time and effort. 
  3. In determining the amount of coursework to achieve learning competencies and outcomes, the University may take into account and consideration alternative delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels. 
  4. Courses that have less structured classroom schedules, such as theme courses, Learning Activities, research, seminars, independent studies, internships, practicums, or any other academic work leading to the award of credit hours, at a minimum, should state clearly learning objectives and expected outcomes and workload expectations that meet the standards set forth above. 
  5. The College Curriculum Committee(s) will review and approve the credit hour assignment based on the criteria above. 

If a class has to be cancelled due to inclement weather, or illness or another appropriate unavailability of the faculty member, an additional structured instructional activity(s) would be required to meet the equivalency standard. 

PROCEDURE(S)

 Faculty develop syllabi for the respective course(s), following the guidelines set for course syllabi and any additional guidelines provided by college/department and the credit hour definition accepted by Life University: 

  • The course syllabus must document not less than one hour (50 minutes) of instruction, or its equivalency, each week for 11 weeks per quarter for each credit hour. 
  • The course syllabus should document an average of not less than two hours of out of class work or preparation each week for 11 weeks per quarter, or adjusted equivalent for other delivery methodologies, for each credit hour. 

Each quarter, the division/department head will certify to the Dean that the syllabi being used that quarter follows LIFE’s template for Course Syllabi and the definition of the university’s credit hour. 

The College Curriculum Committee(s) will review new and revised courses for conformity to these guidelines and commonly accepted practices in higher education. 

OTHER NOTES

 Approved by Academic Affairs via electronic vote 11/09/15. Approved by Academic Council 12/14/15