Calendar and Credit System
The University operates on a semester calendar and uses the semester hour credit system. There are three semesters per twelve-month period: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Each semester consists of fourteen weeks of classes.
Credit Hour Policy Program Instructional Equivalencies
A wide variety of course delivery is utilized. “Learning hours” are assigned to each course. Each “learning hour” represents one hour per week of student engagement, including both instructional and outside of class activities.
Traditional 14-week semesters are offered, plus subterms and an accelerated format. Regardless of the format or delivery, all programs whether online, blended/hybrid, executive weekend, accelerated, subterms or traditional classrooms, must meet the 126-learning hours requirement for a 3-credit course (3 credits * 3 hours/credit * 14 weeks = 126 hours). Adherence to these regulations enhances the quality and rigor of the academic programs and is achieved by utilizing the “instructional equivalencies” detailed below.
Faculty establish the learning-based interactions (when, where, how and why) including frequency, duration, evaluation, and assessment techniques. These guidelines recognize the need for the faculty to actively manage the learning space, both inside and outside the classroom. This policy is extremely important in helping faculty in the design and teaching of courses and in the student learning. It is the responsibility of the faculty to deliver academic quality regardless of delivery format.
Provided below is an outline of acceptable “Instructional Equivalencies”:
| |
Description |
Rate of Equivalency |
| Blogs, Journals, Logs |
Students’ opportunity to apply learned concepts or for reflection on learning experiences; to be shared with instructor and/or classmates for thoughtful analysis, feedback and assessment. |
1 private online posting= ½ learning hour
1 shared online posting (required to read all classmates’ postings)= 1 learning hour |
| Cases studies & problem-solving scenarios |
In-depth analysis requiring utilization of higher order analytical skills which relate to course objectives and is shared with instructor and/or classmates for feedback and assessment. |
1 case study analysis & posting= 1-3 learning hour |
| Required Online Chat rooms for group projects |
Instructor led opportunities for collaborative, synchronous learning with specific expectations for participation & feedback. (Chats are posted for review.) |
1 hour online chat= 1 learning hour |
| Conference calls |
Instructor led opportunities for collaborative, synchronous learning with specific expectations for participation & feedback. (When possible, calls to be recorded for review.) |
½ hour call = ½ learning hour |
| Discussion Board |
Instructor-guided or mediated threaded discussion that directly relates to course objectives and which has specified time-frames, expectations for participation, and thoughtful analysis. |
1 posting (requires reading all postings) = ½ learning hour
1 posting (requires reading all postings and reply to a minimum of 2) = 1 learning hour |
| Field trips, tours and experiential learning (to include virtual tours) |
Students participate as individuals or in groups in analyzing an activity & preparing a paper or presentation, to be shared in whole or in part with instructor and/or classmates. |
(Facilitator or Instructor-Led)-1-hour tour= 1 learning hour
(Student(s) alone without instructor or facilitator)- 1-hour tour plus reflection paper= 1 learning hour
|
| Group projects |
An instructor-mediated culminating activity with specific learning objectives; students collaborate via email, chat rooms, discussion boards, wikis, and/or face-to-face contact to research, analyze, synthesize, & prepare project with instructor receiving periodic updates & providing guidance to group. |
1 hour = 1 learning hour |
| Guided Project/Thesis |
An instructor-mediated culminating individual project/thesis with specific learning objectives; student and facilitator collaborate via email, chat, discussion boards, and/or face-to face to research, analyze & prepare project/thesis with instructor receiving periodic updates and providing guidance and feedback. |
1 hour = 1 learning hour |
| In-Class Instruction, Presentations, & Tests |
Instruction, presentations, and tests provided in person in live classroom setting. |
1 hour = 1 learning hour |
| Instructional CDs, Powerpoints, Videos |
Instructor-mediated to expand upon and clarify course concepts and objectives. |
Reviews & posts response to 1 unit= 1 learning hour |
| Lecture activity-written or audio |
Opportunity for students to develop questions, comments, or observations, to be shared with classmates & instructor through discussion board postings or participation in chat rooms. |
Reviews 1 lecture & posts response= 1 learning hour |
| Library Research (instructor led) |
In-depth instructor led opportunity for students to research scholarly articles or professional journals that relate to course objectives; to be shared with class in a designated manner. |
Research for 1 five-page project = 1 learning hour
Research for 1 3-5-page paper = 1-2 learning hours |
| Online Quizzes |
Opportunity for instructor to assess students’ subject knowledge and provide feedback on students’ progress. |
1-hour test = 1 learning hour |
| Reflection Paper or Article Review |
Instructor-guided activity for students to apply learned concepts and relate practices to personal experiences or apply higher order analytic skills in assessing scholarly articles or professional journals. |
1 private posting = ½ learning hour
1 shared posting (required to read all classmates’ postings)- 1 learning hour |
| Service Learning Project; Jr and Sr projects, capstone |
An instructor-led service project with specific learning objectives that integrates community service with academic study; faculty provides guidance, support, and feedback to students and students shares experience and reflection with fellow classmates via emails, chats, discussion boards, and/or face-to face. |
1 hour = 1 learning hour |
| Web-conferencing |
Instructor-led desktop to desktop or classroom video streaming instruction for collaborative, synchronous learning with specific expectations for participation and feedback. (i.e., Moodle, Adobe Connect, Skype, etc.) |
1 hour = 1 learning hour |
| Web-Quest (Internet Research) |
Instructor-guided opportunity for students to research information on the Internet that enhances student learning and addresses specific course outcomes; findings shared with the instructor and classmates. |
1 in-depth posting = 1 learning hour |
*Researching, PowerPoint/video reviews, WebQuest activities, reading articles, etc. are considered “homework” assignments. The Rate of Equivalency denoted pertains to posting, reviewing, sharing, and providing student-to-student and/or instructor-to-student feedback.
Adapted from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA and modified for Harrisburg University.
Catalog in Effect
A new student entering the University from the 2019-20 academic year (and the Summer 2018) will be subject to the academic program requirements contained in this Catalog edition unless the student elects to complete a revised set of program requirements published in a future edition of the Catalog.
A student who elects to complete a revised set of program requirements must notify the Office of Records and Registration of this intent by completing a Declaration of Programs/Catalog Option Form.
A student who leaves the University and returns from an absence of one year or more will be subject to the Catalog edition in effect during the year of return.
Enrollment Status
The doctorate student is expected to maintain consecutive enrollment, which is defined for certification purposes as either full-time or part-time. Full- time doctorate student enrollment is 6 or more semester hours in a semester. Part-time status is assigned to any doctorate candidate enrolled for fewer than 6 semester hours in a semester. The student may request one semester break. A student that does not return following a semester break will be unofficially withdrawn and will be required to reapply.
Registration Process
The student should complete registration on-line at MyHU/Academics. There are written and video registration instructions available on MyHU. The start and end dates appear on the Academic Calendar, which is in this catalog, posted on MyHU/Academics and www.HarrisburgU.edu.
Add/Drop Period and Course Withdrawals
The Add/Drop Period begins on the first day of the semester or subterm and ends after 6 days of classes have occurred (this includes Saturday). A student may make schedule adjustments during the Add/Drop period on MyHU, or in the Office of Records and Registration. No course may be added after the end of this period. If a student withdraws from any course after the conclusion of this period and up until the last day to withdraw from a course with a “W”, a final grade of “W” will appear on the permanent record. After that period, a “WF” will appear on the permanent record. The withdrawal deadlines appear on the Academic Calendar for both semesters and subterms.
Class Attendance
Attendance is a critical part of a student’s education. The student is expected to attend all classes when scheduled and participate fully in the activities of each course. The instructor is responsible to set forth the attendance requirements in the syllabus.
If, in the judgment of the instructor, a student is absent from class or fails to complete the requested participatory assignments:
- the instructor will notify the student of this determination;
- the student will have one week to contact the instructor to address the situation;
- if the student fails to do so, the instructor will notify the Office of Records and Registration to recommend withdrawal of the student from the course; and
- if after persistent non-attendance or non-response to attempted contacts by the instructor, the Office of Records and Registration will notify the student of this action and may record a grade of WA or WF, respectively.
Curricular Practical Training
Curricular practical training (CPT) is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education employment, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. An F-1 student may be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) to participate in a curricular practical training program, which is an integral part of the established curriculum
Harrisburg University has defined full-time status for a student enrolled using the CPT option as six (6) semester hours of academic credit per semester. A student must be enrolled full-time during CPT. A student enrolled on an F-1 visa using CPT eligibility may not register for more than one (1) online course each semester. A student who holds an H-1B or H-4 visa is permitted to take more than one course online each semester.
The Doctor of Philosophy program permits a student to begin Curricular Practical Training (CPT) in the first semester of study for those students who are deemed eligible to do so, as determined by the SEVIS Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) at the time of enrollment. A student’s CPT internship experience or employment must relate to the student’s program of study and may be part-time (20 or less hours per week) or full-time (21 to 40 hours per week).
CPT is an integral part of the program of study. Referred to as experiential learning, work experience permits the student to take lecture and textbook learning and apply that knowledge to the workplace.
A doctoral student that completes all coursework and enters the thesis/dissertation phase of the program may be considered for CPT if the work experience is clearly documented as necessary for completion of the thesis or dissertation, as determined by the Primary Designated School Official.
To apply for CPT, please submit the following documents to the Office of International Students:
- A completed Curricular Practical Training Verification Form signed by an employer; and,
- A copy of the training or employment offer letter.
Once approved, a student receives a revised SEVIS Form I-20 that is to be presented to the training site supervisor upon request.
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