Definition of Instructional Time
Kent State University follows the Ohio Administrative Code - Rule 333-1-02 Definition of headcount enrollment and full-time equivalent enrollment and requirements for higher education data reporting.
Definition of Academic Year Length
“Academic year” means a period of time that is at least 30 weeks in length counting periods of time (terms) that begin on the first day of classes and end on the last day of classes or examinations. The 30-week requirement shall be measured exclusive of compressed terms, e.g., summer (Ohio Administrative Code, 3333-1-02).
Definition of Semester Length
“Academic semester” means a period of time that shall consist of no fewer than 15 calendar weeks and no more than 17 calendar weeks of instructional time. The inclusion of breaks or holidays within any particular semester shall be at the discretion of the institution so long as the institution is in compliance with the criteria for awarding semester credit hours (Ohio Administrative Code, 3333-1-02).
Definition of Instructional Week Time
“Week of instructional time” means for purposes of the definition of academic semester, academic quarter and academic year, a week of instructional time is any period of seven consecutive days in which at least one day of regularly scheduled instruction, examination, or (after the last day of classes) at least one scheduled day of examinations occurs (Ohio Administrative Code, 3333-1-02).
Definition of Semester Credit Hour
“Semester credit hour” means a minimum of 750 minutes of formalized instruction that typically requires students to work at out-of-class assignments an average of twice the amount of time as the amount of formalized instruction (1,500 minutes). It is acknowledged that formalized instruction may take place in a variety of modes.
While awarding semester credit hours typically occurs for instruction delivered in accordance with an institution’s standard semester calendar, it may also occur for instruction that may not follow the typical pattern of an institution’s standard semester calendar as long as the criteria for awarding such credit is met. Credit hours may be calculated differently for certain types of instructional activities, including But not limited to: laboratory instruction, clinical laboratory instruction, directed practice experience, practicum experience, cooperative work experience, field experience, observation experience, seminar, miscellaneous and studio experience (Ohio Administrative Code, 3333-1-02).
Kent State University Instructional Time
Kent State University’s academic year is 33 weeks of instructional time, which consists of scheduled classes and final examinations in the fall and spring semesters:
- Fall semester: 17 weeks
- Spring semester: 16 weeks
Length of fall semester includes both fall break and Thanksgiving break, as neither are seven consecutive days. Length of spring semester does not include the seven-consecutive days of spring break.
Commencement day is not counted in the instructional time.
See Schedule Type Definitions for the guidelines for awarding credit, including credit-to-contact ratios.
