Setting Student Expectations through a Credit Hour Commitment Model

1. Student success is the first priority Setting Student Expectations through a Credit Hour Commitment Model Florida Association of Institutional Research 2012 Annual Conference

2. Credit Hour Commitment Model Presenters • James Thomas Coraggio, Executive Director, Institutional Research and Effectiveness • Magaly Tymms, Associate Director, Academic Effectiveness and Assessment Institutional Research and Effectiveness St. Petersburg College P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733 (727) 712-5237 FAX (727) 341-5411 Florida Association of Institutional Research

3. St. Petersburg College Quick Facts • SPC, established in 1927, is the oldest 2-year college in Florida • First Community College in Florida to offer 4 year degrees (2002) • 9 Campuses throughout Pinellas County • 2010-11 FTE: 20,011 (LD), 2,396 (UD) • Opening Fall 2011 credited enrollment: 33,480 • Annual 2010-11 headcount: 64,094 Florida Association of Institutional Research

4. Background • “…the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Education has moved the definition of the credit hour closer to the top than I had ever imagined.” (Inside Higher ED, Reconsider the Credit Hour, Steven D. Crow, January 22, 2010: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2010/01/22/crow) • SACS is now requiring institutions to provide a common definition of credit hour that can be applied across modalities Florida Association of Institutional Research

5. SPC Definition • Credits: The academic requirements that must be fulfilled to earn a degree. Each credit hour generally represents the number of hours students spend in class to fulfill that requirement. Thus, a three-credit English class meets three hours each week throughout the term. The class generally requires twice the number of credit hours of out-of-class work each week. • SPC definition based on the Carnegie Credit Hour definition • Also only represents a face-to-face, 16 week course Source: SPC Student Planner and Handbook , page 68 Florida Association of Institutional Research

6. Objectives • To ensure that students have the appropriate expectation for the amount of time required for each class • To establish a common metric that can be applied to all courses regardless of modality and schedule pattern Florida Association of Institutional Research

7. Credit Hour Commitment Model Current Credit Hour Definition Florida Association of Institutional Research

8. Credit Hour Commitment Model • Based on a 3 hour requirement per week per credit hour (CH) • This would require 9hours each week for a 16-week course • Which would result in 144hours each semester for a 16-week course Florida Association of Institutional Research

9. Credit Hour Commitment Model 3 hours X 3 CHs X 16 weeks = 144 hours • 144-hour commitment is required for a 3 credit hour class • Regardless of Modality (FTF, Blended, Online) • Regardless of Session Type (16-week, 10-week, 8-week, etc.) Note: Some exceptions apply such as labs and clinicals Florida Association of Institutional Research

10. Analysis by Week Credit Hour Commitment Model Florida Association of Institutional Research

11. Weekly Commitment Credit Hour Commitment Model Florida Association of Institutional Research

12. Weekly Commitment • What about… • Work? • Family? • Eating? • Sleeping? • Travel? • Relaxation? Florida Association of Institutional Research

13. Full-time Student Schedule • Classes • 36 hours • Commute • 8 hours • Family • 16 hours • Sleep • 56 hours • Eat • 8 hours Weekly Schedule 24 hours X 7 Days 168 Hours 12 Credit Hour Schedule 16-Week • Work • 20 hours • Leisure/ Other • 24 hours Florida Association of Institutional Research

14. Part-time Student Schedule • Classes • 18 hours • Commute • 8 hours • Family • 16 hours • Sleep • 56 hours • Eat • 8 hours 6 Credit Hour Schedule 16-Week • Work • 40 hours • Leisure/ Other • 22 hours Weekly Schedule 24 hours X 7 Days 168 Hours Florida Association of Institutional Research

15. 8-Week Student Schedule • Classes • 36 hours • Commute • 8 hours • Family • 16 hours • Sleep • 56 hours • Eat • 8 hours 6 Credit Hour Schedule 8-Week • Work • 40 hours • Leisure/ Other • 4 hours Weekly Schedule 24 hours X 7 Days 168 Hours Florida Association of Institutional Research

16. 5-Week Student Schedule • Classes • 57.6 hours • Commute • 8 hours • Family • 16 hours • Sleep • 56 hours • Eat • 8 hours 6 Credit Hour Schedule 5-Week • Work • 20hours • Leisure/ Other • 2.4hours Weekly Schedule 24 hours X 7 Days 168 Hours Florida Association of Institutional Research

17. Life/School Balance Calculator • A software interface is currently being developed as part of the Individualized Student Academic Plan process. • Questions will drive an algorithm based on values from the Bureau of Labor statistics Florida Association of Institutional Research

18. Life/School Balance Calculator Example Student Questions • On average, how many hours do you work each week? • On average, how many hours do you sleep each night? • On average, how many hours do you spend commutingeach week? • Do you have children? Florida Association of Institutional Research

19. Life/School Balance Calculator Example Calculated Items Florida Association of Institutional Research

20. Life/School Balance Calculator • Student will answer Life/School Balance questions as part of their Individualized Student Academic Plan. • Program will provide students an ideal sample of course credits and session types based on their responses. Florida Association of Institutional Research

21. Summary Intent of the proposed model is to… • Ensure students understand the amount of time required for each credit/class • Demonstrate our consensus on a credit hour metric consistent across instructional modalities • Preserve the role of faculty in defining high quality and time efficient courses and programs • Ensure institutional integrity consistent with Title IV expectations Florida Association of Institutional Research

22. Questions/Next Steps Florida Association of Institutional Research