PURPOSE

The purpose of this Academic Operating Policy and Procedure (AOP) is to promote an understanding of the procedures required for shortened format courses and contact hours at Mississippi State University.

REVIEW

This AOP will be reviewed every four years (or whenever circumstances require an earlier review) by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) with recommendations for revision presented to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

A shortened format course is defined as a format shorter than a semester length or regular summer session of 5 or 10 weeks. A faculty member may offer a course that meets such definition. However, the department must seek and be granted approval through the usual administrative channels, including the Office of the Provost.

The quality and integrity of the course is very important and, therefore, the following requirements should apply:

1. Courses offered in non-traditional formats, e.g., concentrated or abbreviated time periods, must be designed to ensure an opportunity for preparation, reflection, and analysis concerning the subject matter. By definition, the traditional format of 3 semester credit hours means 150 minutes of instruction per week for 15 instructional weeks, generating 2250 minutes of contact time. Therefore, any proposed shortened format course must generally maintain this amount of instructional time.

2. The institution must demonstrate that students completing these programs or courses have acquired equivalent levels of knowledge and competencies to those acquired in traditional formats.

Other Administrative Issues

Other administrative issues to be considered are the use of different drop and withdrawal dates, refunds, and grading policies when a short course is proposed.

RESPONSIBILITIES