Purpose:
Parameter definitions, guidelines, and requirements for courses offered
in shortened format
Date Approved:
February
14, 1986
Background:
The
Board approved the following System-wide policy for the administration of
courses offered in a shortened format:
U. T. System Policy for the
Administration of
Courses Offered in Shortened Format
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to reemphasize the
expectations of academic quality and rigor for courses offered by U. T.
System component institutions in a shortened format and to provide parameter
definitions, guidelines, and requirements for the development of individual
institutional policies for the approval and administration of any such courses
offered for academic credit within The University of Texas System.
Definition: A course offered in a shortened format is any course
for which academic credit is given and for which the elapsed time from the
first class meeting until the last class meeting or examination period is less
than a normal semester or summer session term.
Administrative Responsibility: The President
of each U. T. System component institution shall cause to be developed
such additional institutional policies and procedures as are necessary to
assure compliance with the intent and spirit of this U. T. System policy
for the administration of courses offered in shortened formats. These additional requirements should address
specific standards such as minimum class contact hours per credit hour and the
minimum duration per credit hour among others. Such requirements will be published in the institution's Handbook of
Operating Procedures following normal approval procedures.
Additionally, the President
of each component institution shall designate an individual or individuals who
shall have the authority to approve the scheduling of courses offered in
shortened formats. Those so designated
shall also be responsible for monitoring academic expectations and the
scheduling of all such courses and shall maintain records of compliance with
institutional standards for all such course requests considered and approved.
Minimum Policy Requirements:
a. Any
course meeting the definition of a course offered in shortened format must have
the advance approval of the individual(s) so designated by the President
following institutionally established procedures.
b. In
addition to standard approval requirements, additional written justification is
to be considered prior to approval of any course offered in shortened format
which does not meet the following criteria:
1. The total
scheduled class contact hours are approximately the same as the hours which would
have occurred in a normal semester or summer session term course with the same
credit hours and similar content.
2. The
elapsed time of the course and the duration of each class session would permit
a typical student to spend approximately the same amount of time in independent
study and classroom time as if the course were a normal semester or summer
session term course.
3. The
standards for admission, drop/withdrawal, and grading are substantially
equivalent to similar courses taught in a normal semester or summer session
term format.
Last reviewed September 2000