Definition of a Credit Hour

I hope everyone is reviewing daily the Department of Education new proposed language.  The Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 117 / Friday, June 18, 2010 / Proposed Rules has the new proposed language defining a credit hour.

The Department proposes to add to § 600.2 a definition of a credit hour that would measure credit hours in terms of the amount of time and work during which a student is engaged in academic activity using commonly accepted academic practice in higher education, and further would provide for institutionally established equivalencies as represented by learning outcomes and verified achievement.
(emphasis mine)

What all accelerated and online degree programs must do is fully articulate their learning outcomes for degree programs and verify the achievement by the students.  If the institution has a degree program that is face-to-face and one that is accelerated or online, then the learning outcomes must be the same and must demonstrate equivalent learning achievement by the students.  We must resist the pressure of our financial aid officers to give a number of hours of seat time or number of hours of online engagement.  Butt in seat does not equal learning. Credit hours should not be defined by time, but by learning achieved.  If you are asked by your financial aid officer to define a credit hour in time, send the financial aid officer to the above proposed language and then attach your assessment plan.  If any institution does not have an assessment plan for every degree program offered, they must develop them immediately.

This is the time to stand up for our programs and the learning that is achieved.  Those with accelerated and online degree programs know that this format reaches a population that would otherwise not be able to earn a college degree.  These adults are working full time and trying to improve themselves and the earning ability for their families.  I truly understand the issues with bad degree programs and diploma mills; however, the format is NOT the issue.  The leadership ethics at the institution might be closer to the issue. Thousands of adults earn a college degree every year because of the accelerated program format. This the workforce the Obama Administration is trying to educate.  Why would we jeopardize their careers by counting hours?  Learning is what is important here!