RVCC 2019 NECHE Self-Study

All program curricula, as well as course competencies, are reviewed before implementation
by the Curriculum team. Their role is to ensure, by working with Program Directors, that
all programs meet the requirements as outlined above. All Program Directors are directly
responsible for developing course content including required competencies. These
competencies are expected to be written in measurable terms and are evaluated by the
Curriculum Team before implementation in the classroom. The Program Director, through
the development of the course outline, also identifies what teaching and assessment
methods may be used for each course. Individual faculty have the academic freedom to
deliver content as they see fit so long as they meet the course competencies, follow the
learning objectives, and develop clear assessment techniques to measure objectives.
Regardless of credential issued by the College, no developmental coursework/credits can
count towards graduation, and all students must earn a minimum Cumulative Grade Point
Average of 2.0 or higher.
Credit Load
Because the standard for a Bachelor’s Degree is 120 credits, the System instituted a 60
credit max for an Associate Degree. This helps to limit student cost and smooth the way
for students to transfer their two-year degree to a four-year institution if they wish to do
so. RVCC has a large number of accredited programs in the Allied Health and Health
Science fields. There is always a struggle for these programs to fall within the 60 credit
limit as they need to meet both the System requirements for Liberal Arts courses, include
all required content for accreditation and preparation of the student, and also include
clinical experiences which are credit bearing. In addition, the Medical Laboratory
Technician program has two pathways, one which allows for direct transfer to UNH
provided the student takes a specific set of RVCC electives. This pathway bears a slightly
higher credit load. Other programs at RVCC also rise above the 60 credit limit. This is
because all RVCC math courses and science courses are four credit courses versus the
CCSNH requirements which are based on math and science courses that are either three or
four credits. RVCC science and math courses are designed for smooth articulation with the
University System of NH. The liberal arts electives that students choose can also have an
impact on the total credit load of a program.
All credits awarded follow the CCSNH System policy 650.01 related to contact hours and
are consistent with NECHE policy. A credit hour is defined as one hour of classroom or
laboratory work and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for a
15 or 16-week semester. One hour of instructional time is considered 50 minutes of direct
instruction.
Direct faculty instruction (“lecture classes”) have a one to one ratio. One hour of
instruction per week equates to one credit when calculated over a full semester (fifteen or
sixteen weeks). Laboratory classes must have two or three hours per week over a fifteen
or sixteen-week semester to equate to one contact hour. The lab hour determination is left
to the Program Director responsible for the course and must be approved by the
Curriculum Team. Once the ratio is established as part of the course outline, it cannot be
adjusted without going through the Curriculum Team process. Any course taught on a
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