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2. Dean's proposal to the
CAS Department Heads (5-6-02)
DISCUSSION DRAFT OF CONTACT-HOUR GUIDELINES
3 May 2002
1. Classroom courses. Credit hours for all classroom courses
should correspond to the equivalent contact hours. When there
is not a direct correspondence between credit hours and regularly scheduled
classroom hours, the course syllabus should list how the course meets
the contact-hour requirement in one of the following two ways:
a. Formally scheduled discussion sections or laboratories
b. Scheduled times (at least 2 hours for each equivalent class
contact hour) exclusive
of usual and normal office hours for meetings with students to supervise
and
review out of class assignments representing additional work
equivalent to the
differential in contact hours (e.g., writing assignments, lab experiments,
field trips,
research papers). These options are typically appropriate only
for small- to
medium-sized classes of not more than about 80 students.
Where it is not possible to match equivalent contact hours to the credit
hours, the credit hours should be adjusted to match the contact hours.
2. Non-classroom courses. For non-classroom courses where
credit and contact hours do not coincide, equivalence should be established
through formal standards for student performance that are consistent
with a corresponding classroom course. Preferably, students should
have a choice between this type of course and the corresponding classroom
course, with consistent standards of assessment. In some instances,
e.g., rarely taught languages, a choice may not be possible, but there
are nationally recognized standards and means of assessment that can
be employed.
3. Readings, research, etc. credits. These guidelines for
contact hours do not apply to readings and conference, research, internship,
practica, or other similar types of credits, which should be evaluated
using other traditional criteria for these credits.
4. Monitoring. When credit and contact hours do not coincide,
either via class time or discussion/laboratory time, then course syllabi
and practice should be regularly reviewed both by the department and
the college for accordance with these guidelines.
Undergraduate Council, 5256 University of Oregon • (541)
346-1221 • Last Update:
June 28, 2002
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