Standard Number 3.4.6: The institution employs sound and acceptable practices for determining the amount and level of credit awarded for courses, regardless of format or mode of delivery.

Full Compliance

Commencing with the Fall 1998 term, University System of Georgia institutions converted from a quarter to a semester system as mandated by the Board of Regents in their Early-Semester Calendar Policy Directive , adopted by the Board in December 1995 . At the same time, the Board instructed institutions not to presume that all semester courses would be taught for 3 credits. They then defined each semester credit hour as the equivalent of a minimum of 750 minutes of instruction or its equivalent (see Board of Regents Policy Manual , § 304.01). Based upon this guidance, Georgia Southern University underwent a thorough curriculum review of all of its programs as part of the semester conversion initiative and required rigorous justification for the credit awarded to each course. Credit for courses in physical education/laboratories/studios was determined based on the guidance provided in the Board of Regents Academic Affairs Handbook , § 2.21.

Beyond this extensive course review, all undergraduate and graduate course changes, additions, and deletions must be vetted through either the University's Undergraduate Committee or the Graduate Committee —both standing committees of the Faculty Senate. As the procedures for submitting agenda items to the Undergraduate Committee clearly indicate (see item #2), each item submitted must have prior approval by the department curriculum committee and the college curriculum committee. The same holds true for the procedures for submitting agenda items to the Graduate Committee . Once proposed course changes, additions, or deletions are approved at this level, they are forwarded to the Faculty Senate for consideration by that body. Faculty Senate approvals are conveyed in the meeting minutes of the Faculty Senate . Following approval at this level, items are forwarded to the Provost and Vice President for review and approval, and then to the President for review and approval. The Provost's Office maintains hard copies of all of the President's approvals. A similar procedure is followed for new course proposals (see Georgia Southern University New Course Form ).