OFFICIAL
 

PURPOSE

1. The purpose of this policy and procedure statement is to document Texas State policy and practices on the relationship between students and teacher contact time and academic credit. This policy references the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Laws and Rules in Chapter 4. Rules Applying to All Public Institutions of Higher Education in Texas, Subchapter A. General Provisions, Section 4.6.



POLICY

2. One semester credit hour courses should contain fifteen contact hours.  Three semester credit hour courses should contain forty-five to forty-eight hours depending on whether a final exam is given.  Many instructional formats may require additional contact hours.
3. To ensure good quality of student learning, students should not take more courses in any term (long or summer) which allows more than one semester credit hour per week over the course of the term.  Generally, students should not be allowed more than six semester credit hours during a five and a half week term or no more than three credit hours during a three week term.



PRACTICE

4. The final exam period is part of the instructional time. If a final exam is not appropriate for a particular course, an appropriate form of instruction should be delivered at the time scheduled for the final exam.
5. Variations from this guideline may be permitted if requested in writing by the departmental chair of the department where the variation is anticipated and approved by the dean of the college where the variation is anticipated.
6. The University Registrar and all others involved with setting calendars and class schedules should help insure this guideline is met.

 

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

7. This PPS has been approved by the reviewer listed below and represents Texas State's Division of Academic Affairs policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Review Cycle: ______________________ Review Date: _________________
Reviewer: __________________________Date: _______________________
Approved: _________________________ Date: _______________________

Gene Bourgeois
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 
Texas State University-San Marcos
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Last Updated: December 12, 2007
Send comments and questions to: tg12@txstate.edu