Resolution on Updating SUNY Policy on The Credit/Contact Hour Relationship

Resolution on Updating SUNY Policy on
The Credit/Contact Hour Relationship
Submitted By the Undergraduate Academic Programs and Policies Committee
Spring 2008 Plenary

PREAMBLE

The State University Policy on Credit/Contact Hour Relationship as articulated in Memorandum to Presidents Vol. 76, No. 8 (codified as SUNY Academic Affairs Policy Document 1305) upon which this SUNY policy was founded is now more than thirty years old. In that time there have been significant advancements in higher education related to various formats of instruction and evaluation.

In light of new pedagogical formats like distance learning and online instruction, faculty, administrators and program planners are concerned with meeting the goals and standards intended for the curricula of their various schools and departments. This is especially important as it relates to credit/contact hours and its interpretation. Program developers require clear and consistent guidance for determining how credit is to be awarded.

Memorandum to Presidents, Vol. 76, No. 8. does not:

address distance learning or online instruction
recognize or cite the Regulations of the Commissioner

Following consultation with the New York State Department of Education, the State University of New York Office of Finance, and the State University of New York Office of Institutional Analysis, the University Faculty Senate proposes the following resolution.

RESOLUTION

Whereas the State University Policy on Credit/Contact Hour Relationship as articulated in Memorandum to Presidents Vol. 76, No. 8 (codified as SUNY Academic Affairs Policy Document 1305) is more than 30 years old, and

Whereas, in that time there have been significant advancements in higher education related to various formats of study and evaluation of study including:

Experience-based learning
Distance Learning
Online instruction
Other technology-enhanced instruction
Learning outcomes and assessment of learning, and

Whereas, the Memorandum to Presidents, Vol. 76, No. 8 does not clearly establish the context of the University policy in the State of New York or the Regulations of the Commissioner and is inconsistent with respect to:

8 NY ADC 50.1 (n) and (o)
8 NY ADC 52.2 (c) (3,5)
8 NY ADC 52.2 (b) (3), and

Whereas, faculty, administrators, and program planners are concerned, in light of new pedagogical strategies like distance learning and online instruction, that they are meeting the goals and standards intended within the curricula in their various schools and departments as relates to the credit/contact hour and its implementation in these changing times, and

Whereas, faculty, administrators, and program planners require clear and consistent guidance for determining how credit is to be awarded and for calculating time on task, therefore

Be it resolved that the Memorandum to Presidents, Vol. 76, No. 8. be reviewed and revised as needed by the University Faculty Senate in collaboration with the appropriate offices designated by the Chancellor to align SUNY policy with the current Regulations of the Commissioner, and

Resolved that any change in policy recognize Commissioner's Regulations Title 8, Chapter II, Pt. 52.2 (c) (3,5) [8 NY ADC 52.2 (c) (3,5)] that call for accomplishment of college-level learning objectives or outcomes as a necessary part of earning semester credit, and

Resolved that any change in policy recognize Regulations Title 8, Chapter II, Pt. 52.2 (b) (3) [8 NY ADC 52.2 (b) (3)] that vests responsibility for the curriculum and measurement of achievement in the faculty and academic officers of the institutions, and

Resolved that there be an appropriate explication of law and policy that will be more accessible and transparent to faculty, administrators, and program planners, and

Be it further resolved that the University Faculty Senate will make recommendations for changes to Vol. 76, No. 8.