3.27 Assignment of Credit Hours Policy
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.22 Course Outlines and
Course Syllabi
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.22.1 Course
Outlines and Syllabi
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.36 Academic Programs
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.35 Credit for Prior Learning
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.36.1 Academic Programs
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.36.1.2 Delivery Methods
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 34 CFR 600 and (k) and (I)
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Normandale Community
College’s assignment of credit hours is consistent with the federal definition
of the credit hour and conforms to commonly accepted practices in higher
education.
Part 1: Definitions.
Subpart A: Federal Credit Hours Definition: A credit hour is the amount of
work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence
of student achievement which is an institutionally established equivalency
that reasonably approximates not less than:
One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two
hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen
weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different
amount of time, regardless of delivery mode: or
Institutionally established reasonable equivalencies for the amount
of work required in this definition. This includes student achievement,
with evidence, of intended learning outcomes, or
At least an equivalent amount of work as required above, in this definition
for other activities as established by the college, including laboratory
work, internships, clinical experiences, studio work, practica, and other
academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours.
Subpart B: Clock hours. Clock Hours are the total number of actual hours
per week a student spends attending class or other instructional activities
that count toward completing a program of study. Federal regulations
require that a semester hour must include at least 37.5 clock hours of
instruction.
Subpart C: Delivery Methods: Alternative modes of delivery refer to
courses delivered by a method other than fully face-to-face.
Normandale offers coursework in the following delivery methods:
in person, mostly online, videoconferencing, blended/hybrid,
arranged, completely online asynchronous, completely online
synchronous, and flexible as defined in Minnesota State Board
Procedure: Procedure 3.36.1.2 Delivery Methods.
Subpart D: Credit for Prior Learning. Credit for prior learning allows student
to demonstrate competence at the college level from learning gained
through experiences outside of the college credit-bearing courses
and to establish consistent practices among colleges for evaluating
and awarding undergraduate credit for prior learning.
Credits are awarded after demonstration that course outcomes have been
completed and documented through external and internal assessments
as outlined in policy. Refer to Minnesota State Board Policy 3.35 and
Normandale Policy 3.35.
Part 2: Course Credit Assignments
Subpart A: Establishment of new courses. Each new credit course shall be
brought through the curriculum approval process of the Academic Affairs
and Standards Council (AA&SC). Each course proposal shall include the
number of credits requested as well as the number of lecture, lab, studio,
clinical/practica, and internship hours per week. Each course proposal
shall also include a course outline (CO) that specifies content to be
covered and student learning outcomes. Credits requested shall conform
to the federal credit hour definition as specified in Part 1: Subpart A.
Subpart B: Changes in course credit assignment of existing courses.
Changes in course credit assignment for existing courses shall be
brought through the curriculum proposal process the AA&SC. Each
course proposal shall include the number of credits requested as
well as the number of lecture, lab, studio, clinical/practica, and
internship hours per week. Each course proposal shall also include
a CO that specifies content to be covered and student learning
outcomes. Credits requested shall conform to the federal credit
hour definition as specified in Part 1: Subpart A.
Part 3: Dissemination of Information
Subpart A: Dissemination of information to faculty. It is the responsibility
of the dean or designee (e.g., faculty chair) to direct faculty members to
the CO. The CO sets minimum expectations for the course and faculty
must adhere to it. Faculty are expected to be current with changes to COs
in their program area.
Subpart B: Dissemination of information to students. Course outlines
shall be available to students through the college website. Course
syllabi will be available to students in the first week of the term of
the course for which they are enrolled.
Policy History:
Date of Implementation: Adopted and implemented prior to 2011
Department Owner: Academic Affairs
Policy History and Subject of Revisions:
Reviewed and revised June 2025
Reviewed and revised December 2024.
Reviewed and revised August 2018:
Next Review Date: 2029