At Governors State University, the University Curriculum Committee, a standing committee of the Faculty Senate, provides oversight to the assigning of credit hours for courses and programs in conjunction with the Office of the Provost.
Governors State University abides by the guidelines set forth by The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and outlined in the Illinois Administrative Rules for Public Universities, which is listed on the IBHE webpage and this document.
"Credit hour" means 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:
- One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or 10 to 12 weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or
- Documented student learning outcomes and evidence of student achievement resulting from a program provided through an alternative delivery method that demonstrates equivalency to those competencies achieved through traditional classroom delivery; or
- At least an equivalent amount of student work as required to achieve intended learning outcomes or competencies as verified by evidence of student achievement for other academic activities established by the institution, including prior learning assessment, laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of each credit hour.