Re: The proposed procedures put forth by the Curriculum Committee regarding approval of Innovative
Month, Community Based Learning and Research and Distance Education courses
The procedures are not sufficient in addressing the Higher Learning Commission’s Criteria for
Accreditation 3.b.2 and 4.a.4. Specifically, the proposed procedures do not consistently or adequately
assure expectations for the quality and rigor of courses proposed in alternative course formats. The
Distance Education procedures do not address the need to meet the standards of quality distance
education stated in the Nine Hallmarks. Additionally there is no definition of an innovative month course
which might distinguish it from another faculty-led study abroad course. A policy and corresponding
procedures need to address the items below.
1. For All Course Proposals (Including New Courses and Changes to Existing Courses)
A. All new course proposals must include:
 A course title, prefix, and number (indicating the course level)
 A needs assessment explaining why the course should be developed (e.g. results
of program assessment data, requirements of field, competitive demand, new
student populations, estimated enrollment, major curricular directions and
priorities, etc.) and its alignment with program learning outcomes and collegewide learning outcomes.
 A catalog description (few than 60 words)
 Course learning outcomes and the assessment instruments which will be used
by the instructor to determine the extent to which students have achieved
these learning outcomes
 Course prerequisite(s) and corequisite(s)
 A description of the primary audience for the course including requirements for
enrollment (e.g. minimum class standing, permissions, program restrictions)
 Number of course credits
 Course format (See approved course format list . Some course formats may
require additional information to be included in the proposal)
 Description of meeting times for a typical week including number of weekly
course instructional/contact hours and out of class student preparation time
that adheres to the College’s Academic Credit Hour policy.
 The major, minor, concentration or general education area
 List of required recommended course readings, materials, technology and
activities [NOTE: it is understood that these are updated and modified as
needed by the instructor(s)]
 Course syllabus
2. Course Formats
A. Regardless of the course format, courses will be consistent in terms of purpose, scope,
quality, assessment, and expected learning outcomes with other courses with the same
course title and number.
i. Accelerated courses
B.
C.
D.
E.
1. For all accelerated courses, the content and learning outcomes will
be the same as those in the standard semester.
2. These courses will meet the equivalent guidelines for direct
instruction and out of class work hours as course offered in a
standard 15 week semester.
Course formats must meet the description and corresponding contact and weekly out of
class student preparation time stated in the Academic Credit Hour policy.
Distance Education Courses: Web-enhanced/blended, hybrid and online
i.
In addition to the items listed in above, proposals for distance education courses
must meet the standards of quality in distance education course development [See
separate document]
Community Based Learning and Research (CBLR)
i.
In addition to the items listed above, proposals for CBLR courses must include a
description of how the course meets each criteria for a CBLR course [See separate
document]
Innovative Month (IM) [Needs to be defined]
i.
Innovative month courses are faculty-led study abroad courses may award 1 credit
per week (7 days) with a maximum of 6 credits per course.
ii.
In addition to the items listed above, proposals for new innovative month courses
must include:
i. An annotated list of courses for which the innovative month will serve as
substitute on a student’s transcript with each annotation providing a
rationale for this substitution.
ii. A description of how contact hours are verified, criteria for evaluation, and
who is responsible for evaluating, assessing and grading the experience.
Approved Course Formats –
The following is a list of approve course formats. Many of these formats will need to be defined.
Approved Course Formats
Lecture
Lecture/Lab
Recitation
Art Studio
Music Studio, Ensemble work
Laboratory
Private Instruction, Music
Internship/Cooperative Ed
Practicum
Lecture/PE
Lecture/Field Instruction
Physical Education Activity
Student Teaching/Field Supervision
Thesis or dissertation
Study Abroad
Outgoing NSE
Student Teaching/Field Supervision
Thesis or dissertation
Web-enhanced/Blended
Web-enhanced/Blended with Lab
Hybrid
Hybrid with Lab
Online
Independent Study
Proposed New Course Format
Community Based
Learning & Research
(CBLR)
Community based learning and
research (CBLR) is a teaching
methodology designed to prepare
students to become active,
responsible citizens by exposing them
to the complex issues and needs of
the larger community, and engaging
them in addressing those needs
through a variety of actions and
problem solving strategies. CBLR
integrates academic learning with
relevant community service, action
and research. While there are various
ways for students to become civically
engaged, CBLR engages students in
community service and civic action
while simultaneously guiding students
in critical reflection of related
curricular content.
Innovative Month
[How is this different than study
abroad?]
Participation in client and clientrelated services that are an integral
part of an academic program. Clinical
instruction occurs inside and/or
outside an institutional setting and
involves work with clients who
receive professional services from
students serving under direct
supervision of a faculty member
and/or approved member of the
agency staff. Students will complete a
minimum of 50 hours of work for
Clinical Experience
How many out of class hours/
community based hours are
expected?
50 hours per credit
Lecture/Clinical
each credit hour earned.
This type of instruction is reserved for
courses in the health sciences
discipline. May include lecture,
laboratory, seminars and conferences,
but the primary learning activity is by
supervised “hands-on” experience.
Clinical contact hours (84-126 hours
per semester) are determined in most
cases by program accreditation
bodies. Normally, these courses meet
1-2 days per week for 5.6 to 8.4 hours
per week (or the equivalent of 5,0407,560 semester minutes). Semester
credit is 2-3 credit hours.
Recommend that the following be deleted:

Correspondence – The College has not been approved by HLC to offer correspondence courses.

Vestibule Lab – CCHE only recognizes this course format for 2 year colleges.