As part of the continued accreditation of the institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Texas Wesleyan adheres to the following policy on the awarding of academic credit and assignment of course credit hours. The common use of academic credit amongst all institutions ensures the transfer of coursework from one institution to another. The federal government also relies on the academic credit to assess student academic engagement as a basis of awarding financial aid. The amount of credit awarded for undergraduate and graduate courses at Texas Wesleyan is based on the unit of the credit hour.
In accordance with federal policy (U.S. Department of Education, 34 CFR, Section 600.2), Texas Wesleyan defines a credit hour as the amount of work represented in the achievement of learning outcomes, verified by evidence of student achievement, that reasonably approximates to not less than:
- One hour (50 minutes) of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work, each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit; or
- The equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
- An equivalent amount of work by other instructional modes of delivery such as distance education (online) and hybrid (blended), or other academic activities such as laboratory work, studio work, or any other academic work leading to the award of credit.
Out of Class Student Work
Out-of-class student work may include readings, review of notes, written assignments or journals, group projects, preparation for quizzes or examinations, vocal or instrumental practice, rehearsal for dramatic productions, quantitative problem solving, literature research, creation of lesson plans, review of films and/or dramatic productions, preparation for presentations, lab reports, preparation for clinical experiences, or other assigned work as appropriate to the student learning outcome(s) of the course.
Instructional Make-up Time
In the event the University is closed for inclement weather, other emergency situations, or if an instructor must cancel a face-to-face or synchronous online class session for any reason, instructional time must be made up. Faculty must document the communication to students regarding the alternative instructional arrangements.
Up to two weeks of University closure:
Face-to-face courses and face-to-face sessions in hybrid courses (classroom instruction): Faculty must make up the missed instructional time by:
- scheduling make-up face-to-face classes (classroom instruction)*
- using Canvas for synchronous online instruction, or
- assigning an equivalent amount of independent out-of-class student work. Out-of-class student work may include:
- readings, review of notes, written assignments or journals, group projects, preparation for quizzes or examinations, vocal or instrumental practice, rehearsal for dramatic productions, quantitative problem solving, literature research, creation of lesson plans, review of films and/or dramatic productions, preparation for presentations, lab reports, preparation for clinical experiences, a recorded a video lecture, e.g. a narrated PowerPoint or classroom lecture, for student viewing/response or
- other assigned work as appropriate to the student learning outcome(s) of the course.
*For hybrid courses, faculty must make up any missed face-to-face in classroom instructional time by scheduling face-to-face in classroom make-up classes. Faculty may convert originally scheduled online instruction to face-to-face.
- Make-up classes
- may not penalize students who are unable to attend;
- should not be scheduled at a time when they would conflict with the regular schedule of other classes;
- should not be scheduled at a time when they would conflict with religious holy days.
- Exams should not be scheduled during make-up classes.
More than two weeks of University closure:
For missed face-to-face instructional time that goes beyond two weeks of instructional time, the University will determine specified make-up days depending on the term and at which time within the term the closure occurs. Make-up days may include previously approved holiday or break days, weekend classes, or an extension of the academic term. In cases where the term is extended to facilitate make-up time, approval of graduates may be delayed. Make-up days will be announced through appropriate campus publications and to the faculty and staff within two weeks of the closure.
Online courses
Asynchronous online courses should continue to follow the regular schedule during a University closure. Should a disruption occur to the availability of online courses, the University will determine procedures for make-up time depending on the nature of the disruption.
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