The purpose of this policy is to define the amount of instruction and student work expected for each credit hour (or unit of credit).
This policy is intended to reflect the University’s commitment to the principles, goals, and ideals by defining KGI’s standards of academic credit, and to adhere to federal regulations under Section 600.2 and 600.4, revised July 1, 2020 of the Higher Education Act and 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l) of the Code of Federal Regulations, and is consistent with the requirements of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). These requirements require the WSCUC to review the institution’s definition of credit hour and an institutions’ processes and policies for ensuring the credit hour policy is followed.
I. Definitions
KGI’s academic year consists of terms in Summer, Fall and Spring, and each term is approximately 15 weeks in length.
Credit Hour: Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), 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:
Instructional hours includes classroom hours with direct instructor contact in a physical or virtual classroom, as well as asynchronous instructional content for online or hybrid courses. This includes class meeting times for lecture, exams, classroom discussion, and other supervised learning activities, as well as asynchronous self-guided learning activities.
Non-classroom hours: supervised or non-supervised student work out of class.
Total work hours: Combined classroom and non-classroom hours. Instructors may reasonably adjust the classroom and non-classroom work hours depending on course and scheduling needs such as holidays and emergencies, but the total work hours must remain consistent.
II. Credit Hours Policy
In order to be considered full-time for purposes of federal financial aid, graduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester. In order to be considered half-time, graduate students must be enrolled in at least six credits per semester.
KGI awards credits in accord with the following criteria: for each 1 credit, a course meets for 1 hour per week in a 15-week semester, as further defined in Section III below. For example, a three-credit course is expected to have a total of 45 contact hours and 90 hours of student work outside of class per semester.
The following examples represent KGI course credit hour calculations:
Credits
Instructional Activities
Non-classroom Hours
Expected Total Work Hours
1.5
22.5
45
67.5
3
90
135
6
180
270
III. Credit hours are granted for various types of instruction as follows
IV. Monitoring and Compliance