Direct assessment program (34 CFR 668.10). Direct assessment program, as defined in 34 CFR 668.10, is an instructional program that, in lieu of credit hours or clock hours as a measure of student learning, utilizes direct assessment of student learning, or recognizes the direct assessment of student learning by others. The assessment must be consistent with the accreditation of the institution or program utilizing the results of the assessment.

Direct assessment of student learning (34 CFR 668.10). Direct assessment of student learning, as defined in 34 CFR 668.10, means a measure by the institution of what a student knows and can do in terms of the body of knowledge making up the educational program. These measures provide evidence that a student has command of a specific subject, content area, or skill or that the student demonstrates a specific quality such as creativity, analysis or synthesis associated with the subject matter of the program. Examples of direct measures include projects, papers, examinations, presentations, performances, and portfolios.

Distance education (34 CFR 668.2). Distance education means education that uses one or more of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this definition to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously. The technologies may include—

1. The internet;
2. One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;
3. Audio conferencing; or
4. Video cassettes, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassettes, DVDs, or CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this definition.

POLICY

This policy conforms to the DEAC Part 3, Section F, Academic Units of Measurement, DEAC Accreditation Handbook, page 77 requirement that institutions document policies and procedures used to define the chosen academic unit of measurement. Academic units are measured by either clock hours or credit hours. This policy also complies with the definitions of distance education, clock hours, credit hours, and other related terms used in this policy as described in Title 34 of CFR. Richmindale uses credit hours as the academic unit of measurement for its online courses and programs.

Richmindale requires subject matter experts (SMEs) with the right academic qualifications and experience to develop its programs, courses, syllabi and other course materials. During course development, the SMEs identify and analyze the number of one-hour meetings required in a course for one 15-week semester, considering additional two hours of out-of-class work for each one-hour meeting based on Carnegie unit. Since Richmindale uses the distance learning format, these one-hour face-to-face meetings between instructors and students happen online, primary using video conference through the Internet. Richmindale considers each of these online meetings as a way to provide direct faculty instruction to students for classes, lectures, or recitations, which fulfills the requirements of a credit hour based on its definition in 34 CFR 600.2(1). As such, Richmindale uses this number of meetings as credits awarded in an online course of Richmindale. For example, an online course that is identified to require three hours of meetings (online) for direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class work every week for one 15-week semester, which equates to 45 instruction (clock) hours and 90 outside work, is awarded three credits.

Richmindale also considers other student activities to award credits in a course based on the definition of credit hours in 34 CFR 600.2(2), in addition to the online face-to-face meetings described in item 5.3 of this section. The following table of student activities guided by instructors defines the number of equivalent credit hours used to award a course: