Document No. I-03-03

PROPOSAL TO THE ACADEMIC SENATE

TITLE: University Degree Requirements for Minimum UD Credit Hours

SUBMITTED BY: Academic Policies Committee

DATE: December 2002

ACTION IS: Legislative Authority

REFERENCES:

1. University of Dayton Bulletin, August 2002 – Undergraduate Issue. Section III. Admissions, Transfer Students, p. 35.
2. University of Dayton Graduate School Bulletin, January 2001. Section V. General Academic Information, Master’s and Doctor’s Degree Requirements, Residence Requirement, p. 17.

Background.

1. The current university academic policies specify minimum credit hours that a student must completed by taking University of Dayton courses. At the undergraduate level, the Undergraduate Bulletin (Reference 1) specifies,

A transfer student is considered for degree only if the last 30 semester hours have been taken at the University of Dayton and other requirements have been met.

At the graduate level, the Graduate Bulletin (Reference 2) specifies,

For the master’s degree, at least 24 semester hours of credit or its equivalent must be earned at the University or its off-campus centers.

For the doctoral degree, two-thirds of the semester hours required beyond the master’s degree should be earned at the University of Dayton.

2. Various academic units of the University offer undergraduate and/or graduate courses at off-campus locations and courses using distance technology.
3. Confusion is possible in interpreting these policies due to the inconsistent wording.
4. Confusion is possible as to whether credit earned via UD distance technology courses qualifies under these policies.
5. Confusion is possible for undergraduate or doctoral students as to whether credit earned via UD courses at off-campus locations qualifies under these policies.

Rationale.

1. University policies concerning a specific type of degree requirement should, under normal circumstances, use consistent language in specifying this requirement for its various degrees.
2. University level academic policies specify degree requirements of all programs across all the academic units. Individual academic units, however, are able to delineate qualifications or additional degree requirements (that, of course, fit within the more general university policies.) Therefore, university level policies on minimum University of Dayton credit hours for various degrees should specify that the credit is earned via courses developed and offered by the University of Dayton but need not distinguish among types of courses nor locations of courses. Individual academic units or programs may make such distinctions.

Consultation.

This minimum credit hour issue and the proposed wording change below have been discussed at the Provost Council and individually with various deans and program directors.

Proposal.

University policies that specify minimum academic credit that must be earned via University of Dayton courses should all use the phrase

“taken from the University of Dayton.”

Thus, Reference 1 will be changed to the following:

A transfer student is considered for a degree only if the last 30 semester hours have been taken from the University of Dayton and other requirements for graduation have been met.

And, Reference 2 will be changed to the following:

For the master’s degree, at least 24 semester hours of credit, or its equivalent, should be taken from the University of Dayton.

For the doctoral degree, two-thirds of the semester hours required beyond the master’s degree should be taken from the University of Dayton.