Seat-Time for Academic Credit Policy

McNeese State University adheres to the ULS Board Policy regarding seat-time for academic credit.  State System institutions have long recognized that college-level learning may be acquired in a variety of settings and can be documented objectively and comprehensively through written or performance examinations and other academically sound procedures.  A traditional example used to determine course length has been that three semester hour classes have met for not less than 36 clock hours of instruction.  With the growth in recent years in distance education, the introduction of technology in delivering instruction, and the increase in the number of readings/special topic courses and independent study courses, the nature of contact hours has changed and requires greater flexibility.  All classes must be a reasonable length and include both content and contact sufficient to maintain high academic quality and standards commensurate with credit hours awarded for a "traditional" three-hour semester lecture class.  The basis for such certification of learning is a valid, credible assessment system, which reliably determines whether a student possesses clearly identified standards-based knowledge, skills and abilities.