Semester (calendar system)

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

“A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session. Note: the standard term length range is defined by the Office of Postsecondary Education. More information can be found at: https://ifap.ed.gov/electronic-announcements/110519RevisionGuidelinesApplicableStandardTerms.”

Calendar System

“The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.”

Credit Hour

“A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term. It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other recognized postsecondary credential.”

34 CFR 668.3

According to the Department of Education, an “academic year” is defined as follows:

“(a) General. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, an academic year for a program of study must include— (1) (i) For a program offered in credit hours, a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time; or (ii) For a program offered in clock hours, a minimum of 26 weeks of instructional time; and (2) For an undergraduate educational program, an amount of instructional time whereby a full-time student is expected to complete at least— (i) Twenty-four semester or trimester credit hours or 36 quarter credit hours for a program measured in credit hours; or (ii) 900 clock hours for a program measured in clock hours” (34 CFR 668.3(a)).16

• Furthermore, the Department of Education defines “weeks” with reference to distance education:
• (b)Definitions. For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section— (1) A week is a consecutive seven-day period; (2) A week of instructional time is any week in which— (i) At least one day of regularly scheduled instruction or examinations occurs, or, after the last scheduled day of classes for a term or payment period, at least one day of study for final examinations occurs; or (ii) (A) In a program offered using asynchronous coursework through distance education or correspondence courses, the institution makes available the instructional materials, other resources, and instructor support necessary for academic engagement and completion of course objectives; and (B) In a program using asynchronous coursework through distance education, the institution expects enrolled students to perform educational activities demonstrating academic engagement during the week; and (3) Instructional time does not include any scheduled breaks and activities not included in the definition of “academic engagement” in 34 CFR 600.2, or periods of orientation or counseling” (34 CFR 668.3(b)).17
• See also 34 CFR 668.2 “Full-time student.”18

16 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-668/section-668.3#p-668.3(a); See also the definition of “Academic year” in the glossary for the 2023-24 IPEDS Data Collection System (https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/public/glossary).

17 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-668/section-668.3#p-668.3(b)

18 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/part-668/section-668.2#p-668.2(Full-time%20student)

ALL POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO AMMENDMENT