1. Credit Hour
The college uses the credit hour as the basic unit for awarding institutional academic credit for all modalities and levels of education. Credit hours are based on a 15-week semester (or the equivalent amount of student workload for a different length course).
One credit hour is approximately one hour (50 to 60 min.) of direct instruction delivered to students (or an equivalent amount of self-directed learning activities), plus two hours (110 to 120 min.) of instructor-designated out-of-class learning activities, each week, for 15 weeks of a semester. Thus, a one-credit hour course requires between 37.5 - 45.0 hours of student workload per semester.
Credit will be awarded based on weekly academic engagement with the course, as well as an assessment of student achievement on assignments and course outcomes. All competency-based learning will be assessed through the Credit for Prior Learning process.
2. Academic Engagement
Students are expected to attend class sessions (whether onsite, participation in synchronous meetings online, or via remote teaching and learning technology), and participate in experiential learning activities or other forms of interactions between the instructor and the student. Likewise, various forms of course transactions contribute to engagement, such as submitting an assignment, taking a test or quiz, participating in computer-aided instructional activities, study groups, group projects, assigned online discussions, or discussing class-related academic topics with the course instructor (academic counseling or advising do not contribute).
3. Extension Site
A designated off-campus location where students and faculty regularly meet physically (i.e., “onsite”) in classes. Students may only complete up to 49% of course work toward requirements for one or more of the institution’s educational programs at extension sites.
4. Learning Modalities
CCCB offers courses in a variety of modalities to meet the diverse learning and scheduling needs of students. Courses are designed to impart the knowledge, skills, and practical experiences necessary for lifelong learning, vocational competence, and development of a biblical worldview regardless of location or instructional modality. Modalities will be designated on the class schedule and in the student information system. In some instances, students will be able to register for a class in a variety of formats in the same term (i.e., “Mixed Modality”).
Face-to-face education requires instructors and students to be physically in the same classroom at the same time for more than half of scheduled class sessions.
a) Onsite
Courses are delivered in a traditional face-to-face environment where instruction is predominantly through in-person lecture and discussion format. Technology may be used to enhance student engagement and occasionally replace in-person class sessions. Instructors will take daily attendance.
b) Hybrid
Courses are delivered through a combination of face-to-face and teaching-learning technologies. These courses require a minimum of 51% physical onsite instruction. The remainder of the course may be taught using various synchronous and asynchronous learning designs. Instructors will take daily attendance.
All forms of distance education use one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated by space and/or time from the instructor. Most course activity is done via technologically mediated educational strategies including, by not limited to, video conferencing, audio conferencing, and learning management systems. Courses are designed to include regular and substantive faculty-student, and student-student, interaction, either synchronously or asynchronously, to engage students in teaching, learning, and assessment. Students need to have regular access to a computer, or like device that can run the Canvas and Zoom platforms, a reliable internet connection, and satisfactory peripheral equipment (minimum of a webcam, a listening device, and a microphone).
c) Online
Courses are designed to deliver instruction and interaction between the teacher and among students primarily through asynchronous learning strategies. Some courses may include limited synchronous elements. Students are expected to complete weekly assignments. All online courses are 8 weeks long. Instructors will take weekly attendance based on student engagement.
d) Remote
Courses are designed to deliver instruction and interaction between the teacher and among students primarily through synchronous course sessions. Students are expected to schedule sufficient time for live classroom instruction/learning activities. For some classes, the college will provide a technology-equipped room for students to engage with remote teachers. Students are required to complete weekly assignments in addition to the live-streamed sessions. Remote classes may be either 8 or 15 weeks long. Instructors will take weekly attendance based on student attendance.
e) HyFlex
Courses are designed to allow students the maximum amount of participation choice. Students may attend physically onsite, through live-streamed remote delivery, or by watching recorded class sessions (along with additional assignments). See the requirements for each of these modalities above. Students are expected to complete weekly assignments. HyFlex classes may be either 8 or 15 weeks long. Instructors will take weekly attendance based on student attendance.
f) Experiential Learning
Courses are designed to give students real-world practical experience. Students are responsible to engage with their in-context supervisor and the course instructor on a weekly basis. Some course learning activities will be assigned to monitor growth and assess learning. However, a majority of the course will be spent in an internship or a paid position developing proficiency in specified knowledge or skills in order to meet program or degree requirements, while gaining the necessary work competencies for career readiness. Instructors will take weekly attendance based on student engagement.
5. Terms and Sessions
CCCB’s academic year has three terms. It begins with a fall term, followed by a spring term, and ends with a summer term.
a) Semester
A 15-week term. Semesters are commonly referenced as Fall or Spring or in the format using the corresponding year:
- FA-24
- SP-25
b) Session
An 8-week term. CCCB’s online courses are offered in sessions. There are two online sessions each semester and one session in the summer. Online sessions are referenced by their session name and the year:
- AUG-24
- OCT-24
- JAN-25
- MAR-25
- JUN-25