Review of Courses with Condensed Time Schedules
Courses are being re-packaged in new and interesting ways, during time periods outside of the traditional ten-week quarter or as summer experiences. At the same time, the CSU defines a credit hour as the amount of work that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time (see the university Credit Hour policy). Thus, no matter the mode, a one-unit course during a quarter translates to approximately 30 total hours of student work.
By this standard, it may prove difficult for students to attain the approved course learning objectives/outcomes if students are expected to work more than 10 hours in any given day. Therefore, any existing course or group of courses that in its new condensed format averages less than three days per unit must be approved by the appropriate college curriculum committee and the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee at least 60 days before it is offered.
Source:
Academic Senate Resolution: AS-838-17 “Resolution on Review of Courses with Condensed Time Schedules” (PDF). Adopted 6 June 2017.
Policy on Courses with Condensed Time Schedules for the Semester Catalog, Beginning Fall 2026
In recent years, Cal Poly has offered courses over innovative time schedules that are outside of the traditional quarter, semester, or summer term; examples include Study Abroad, the EOP Summer Institute, and Quarter Plus.
Courses on condensed time schedules are still subject to WSCUC and CSU credit hour policies pertaining to direct faculty instruction time and out-of-class student work time.
In order to ensure that students are not expected to work more than 10 hours during any given day of one of these condensed schedules, and to ensure that students are still able to attain the Course Learning Objectives that have been approved for any given Cal Poly course, any course or group of courses must average at least four (4) days per semester unit earned. For example, a special 8-unit summer program must be offered over at least 32 days, including weekends.
Any course or group of courses that in its new condensed format averages less than four days (including weekends) per semester unit earned must be approved by the appropriate College Curriculum Committee(s) and the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee at least 60 days before they are offered over this type of condensed schedule.
Sources:
Academic Senate Resolution: AS-960-23 “Resolution on Courses with Condensed Time Schedules for Quarter-To-Semester Conversion” (PDF). Adopted 23 May 2023, supersedes and updates AS-838-17.
Academic Senate Resolution: AS-921-21 “Resolution on How Credit Hour Policy Adherence is Assessed and Assured” (PDF). Adopted 25 May 2021.
Last updated: 10/26/2023