Gwynedd Mercy University 2025-2026 University Catalog 18
classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time.”
At GMercyU, a three-credit course represents 42 hours of classroom instruction or its equivalent, not including final examination or homework as normally interpreted. The following guidelines are intended to ensure compliance with the standard across the various course delivery formats offered by the institution, a consistency in when and how the equivalency is applied across formats, and the maximum opportunity for faculty to exercise academic freedom in meeting the extant standard while achieving the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the specific course.
Ordinarily, courses offered will meet the 14 hours of classroom instruction per credit hour( i. e., 42 hours for a three-credit course, 56 hours for a four-credit course, etc.). However, if a class or classes in a course must be cancelled due, for example, to the closing of the University for inclement weather or the illness or other appropriate unavailability of the faculty member, then additional structured instructional activity( or activities) would be required to meet the equivalency standard. For example, if classroom instruction turns out to be 38 hours face-to-face, the faculty will determine the appropriate out of classroom instructional activities for the additional four hours required to meet the semester standard. Wherever possible, this contingency will be explained in the syllabus and documented accordingly.
Online and Accelerated Programs There are a number of outcome-based formats at the university that have fewer than 14 hours of instructional time per semester credit hour but meet the equivalency standard set forth in the regulation. In these alternative formats, the instructional time and the additional outside of classroom alternative instructional activities( Alternative Equivalent Instruction or AIE) must meet the one semester credit hour per 14 hours’ classroom instruction or its equivalent as determined by the faculty( i. e., 42 hours for a three-credit course; 56 for a four-credit course, etc.). For example, if a three-credit course in a seven-week format meets face-to-face for 28 hours, an additional 14 hours of structured AIEs are required; for a five- week course that meets 20 hours face-to-face, an additional 22 hours of AIEs would be needed. Online courses require 42 hours of appropriate alternate equivalent online instruction activities to meet the minimum threshold. The syllabus for the course should identify the type of AIEs to be utilized. Wherever possible, this contingency will be explained in the syllabus and documented accordingly.
In general, students should expect to spend at least 3 hours of effort outside of class for every credit hour. For example, a 4-credit course will require at least 12 hours each week( homework 2 hours or more; reading and studying 6 ½ hours per week).
Choice of Major Incoming students may request a major or choose University Studies. Retention in a program is contingent upon satisfactory progress. Refer to program policy within each college. The University strongly suggests that University Studies students declare a major no later than the completion of 60 earned credits. Students with over 60 credits may transfer into the University Studies program for two consecutive semesters before declaring a new major. If, after two semesters in University Studies, a student is not accepted into a major, the student may continue only as a non-matriculated, part-time student up to a total of 12 credits, no more than 9 credits in any given semester.
Course Changes Course Add and Course Drop