Credit Hour

Policy Title	Credit HOur
Type or category of Policy:	University/Administrative/Departmental Academic Policy
Approval Authority:	Vice President for Academic Affairs
Responsible Executive:	Vice President for Academic Affairs
Responsible Office:	Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs
Owner Contact:	Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Madden   518-783-2307
Reviewed By:	Margaret Madden
Reviewed Date:
Last Revised and Effective Date of Revision:

Siena University follows the U.S. Department of Education definition of a credit hour. Siena University applies this definition to traditional face to face and distance education courses. Specifically, the University defines a credit hour as: 

“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 not less than: 

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester credit or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”

See Middle States Commission on Higher Education, “Credit Hour Policy”, October 2012.