Credit Hour Policy

Board Policy 4141 defines credit hour at Nebraska State Colleges in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations. This policy also provides parameters for the assignment of credit hours to courses using a variety of instructional modalities.

The Federal Credit Hour Definition is endorsed by the Board and paraphrased below. 

A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than: 

1. One (1) hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen (15) weeks for one (1) semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten (10) to twelve (12) weeks for one quarter (1/4) hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours. 34CFR 600.2 (11/1/2010) 

Peru State College faculty shall document in their syllabus how their course meets the credit hour definition by identifying the approximate time spent by students for both direct faculty instruction as well as informal, out-of-class student work for each week of the course.

Information about how to determine and document expected student time commitments is available here. 

Approved by Faculty Senate, November 1, 2018
Approved by President Hanson, November 21, 2018