Office of Postsecondary Education - U.S. Department of Education

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 209 / Friday, October 29, 2010 / Rules and Regulations66845WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES2which they believed has been effectiveat assigning credit for over 100 years.One commenter noted that theeducation community has been able toreach consensus on creditdeterminations despite the lack of auniform definition.Many commenters believed that credithours are fundamentally measurementsof academic achievement and othersbelieved that the Secretary’s only reasonfor defining a credit hour is to have astandard measure for determiningeligibility for and distribution of title IV,HEA program funds. The commentersbelieved that credit hours should not betreated as fiscal units. One of thesecommenters contended that the systemsof assigning academic credit anddetermining the distribution of title IV,HEA program funds are different andshould be kept separate. Anothercommenter expressed concern thattreating credit hours as fiscal unitswould cause the Federal Government togive consideration to fiscal mattersabove all others.Several commenters believed that theSecretary’s proposed definition of acredit hour is too restrictive and doesnot account for institutional orprogrammatic variances. Thesecommenters believed that a Federalcredit-hour definition is inapplicable toa diverse educational system composedof different types of institutions,programs, and course formats.One commenter expressed concernthat the proposed credit-hour definitiondid not account for events that mayoccur within institutions’ academiccalendars, such as Federal and religiousholidays, natural disasters, or campussafety issues. This commenter believedthat these events may prohibitinstitutions’ compliance with proposedparagraph (1) of the credit-hourdefinition because institutions may notmeet the requirements for classroominstruction or minimum weeks in asemester.A few commenters believed that theproposed credit-hour definition neededmore specificity in proposed paragraph(1) with regard to the quantity of timethat constitutes a credit hour. Onecommenter suggested revising theproposed definition to specifically statethat a credit hour consists of 50 minutesof instructor contact for every creditearned in a 16 week semester and twohours of out-of-class work for eachcredit. Another commenter suggesteddefining a credit hour in proposedparagraph (1) of the definition in termsof clock hours.One commenter suggestedgeneralizing the proposed definition ofa credit hour to state: (1) A credit houris a unit of measure associated with theachievement of prescribed learningoutcomes for a particular course ofstudy, regardless of instructionaldelivery, (2) each institutionparticipating in title IV, HEA programsmust define, document, andconsistently apply its process for thedetermination of credit for theachievement of learning outcomes, and(3) some institutions may also adhere toa standard academic credit conversionrate as defined by their accreditingagency or State agency.One commenter believed that allaccrediting agencies should be requiredto use a more general definition of acredit hour wherein a semester hourconsists of at least 15 hours of classroomcontact; 30 hours of supervisedlaboratory instruction, shop instruction,or documented independent studyactivities; or not fewer than 45 hours ofexternship, internship, or work relatedexperience. This commenter believedthat a quarter hour should consist of atleast 10 hours of classroom contact; 20hours of supervised laboratoryinstruction, shop instruction, ordocumented independent studyactivities; or not fewer than 30 hours ofexternship, internship, or work relatedexperience.One commenter believed that theproposed credit-hour definitionprovided institutions with too muchautonomy to determine an equivalentamount of work as defined in proposedparagraph (1) because there are nostandard measures for student learningoutcomes. This commenter suggestedrevising proposed paragraph (1) toequate classroom time with directfaculty instruction and three hours oflaboratory work with one hour ofclassroom time and two hours of out-ofclasswork. The commenter alsosuggested revising proposed paragraphs(2) and (3) to require institutions toestablish and document academicactivities equivalent to the work definedin proposed paragraph (1) and revisingproposed paragraph (3) to requireinstitutions to compare studentachievement to the intended outcomesassigned and student achievementattained for credit hours measuredunder proposed paragraph (1).Discussion: The credit-hour definitionin § 600.2 and the provisions in§§ 602.24(f) and 603.24(c) weredesigned to preserve the integrity of thehigher education system by providinginstitutions, accrediting agencies, andState agencies recognized under 34 CFRpart 603 with the responsibility fordetermining the appropriate assignmentof credit hours to student work. Underproposed §§ 602.24(f) and 603.24(c), theVerDate Mar2010 14:10 Oct 28, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\29OCR2.SGM 29OCR2institution’s accrediting agency, orrecognized State agency if, in lieu ofaccreditation, the institution isapproved by one of the four Stateagencies recognized under 34 CFR part603, would be responsible for reviewingand evaluating the reliability andaccuracy of an institution’s assignmentof credit hours in accordance with thedefinition of credit hour in § 600.2.These final regulations employ thesebasic principles of reliance oninstitutions and on accrediting agenciesor, if appropriate, recognized Stateagencies, for ensuring institutions’appropriate determinations of the credithours applicable to students’coursework.The credit-hour definition in § 600.2is intended to establish a quantifiable,minimum basis for a credit hour that, bylaw, is used in determining eligibilityfor, and the amount of, Federal programfunds that a student or institution mayreceive. We believe that the definition ofa credit hour in § 600.2 is consistentwith general practice, provides for thenecessary flexibilities, and may be usedby institutions in their academicdecision-making processes andaccrediting agencies and recognizedState agencies in their evaluation ofinstitutions’ credit assignments.We note, however, that institutions,accrediting agencies recognized under34 CFR part 602, and State agenciesrecognized under 34 CFR part 603 arerequired to use the definition in § 600.2for Federal program purposes such asdetermining institutional eligibility,program eligibility, and studentenrollment status and eligibility. Webelieve that in most instances thedefinition will generally require no orminimal change in institutional practiceto the extent an institution adopts thedefinition for its academic purposesrather than maintaining a separateacademic standard.The provisions in §§ 600.2, 602.24,and 603.24 neither limit nor prescribethe method or manner in whichinstitutions may assign credits to theircourses for academic or other purposesapart from Federal programs. Theseregulations do not require institutions toadopt the definition of a credit hour in§ 600.2 in lieu of existing institutionalmeasurements of academicachievement, but rather to quantifyacademic activity for purposes ofdetermining Federal funding. Aninstitution will be able to continueusing the long-standing creditassignmentpractices that it has found tobe most effective for determining credithours or equivalent measures foracademic purposes, so long as it eitherensures conformity, or uses a different