Reviews the role that accreditation plays in defining and enforcing the credit-hour measure. Regional accreditation agencies are generally more flexible in terms of defining credit hours than are national agencies, which are more rigid in their expectations. Specialized accrediting agencies usually make the least mention of credit units. (SLD)

Looks back at the chapters of this special issue to conclude that the credit unit serves as a universal translator that allows disparate activities to be translated by complicated institutions into a common language. However, it also contributes to bad habits in the academy, especially in relation to goals and assessment of student learning. (SLD)

Interviewed representatives of 11 higher education institutions known for innovative policies about how the metrics of the credit hour have helped or impeded their efforts to change. With one exception, these institutions converted their courses into time-equivalent blocks, and then assigning credit hours, when necessary, to these blocks. (SLD)

Traces the history of the student credit hour, designed at the end of the 19th century to translate high school work to college admissions officers. It was expanded to higher education to record elective course work and became widespread in response to calls to document workload and institutional productivity. (SLD)

Explored if and how the credit hour is used in higher education outside of the United States, with a focus on its use in measuring student progress and attainment. The use of the credit hour in Europe, where it has fostered innovation, and in Japan, and Australia generally follows the fundamentals of the U.S. model. (SLD)

Conducted a survey of the ways colleges and universities apply the student credit hour and the extent to which time is still used as a primary basis for awarding credits. Responses of 38 institutions show that most 4-year institutions do not have internal policies to define credit hours, and that credit hours are defined and awarded…

Summarizes current research on the role of the federal government in defining or enforcing the credit hour measure in higher education, focusing on the role of the U.S. Department of Education in shaping the credit hour system. The federal government shows interest in moving away from focusing on administrative matters to issues of academic policy…

The overall concerns of program design of field experience programs are dealt with, including funding, academic credit, and program administration. (Editor/PG)

Discusses the ways the credit hour has come to be used by public funding systems in higher education. The literature review shows that the credit hour has become a barrier to innovation and a way to create systemic inequities between institutions or sectors in resource allocation. (SLD)

Studied the credit hour as a measure of faculty workload through interviews with administrators at several public and private colleges and universities. The credit hour metric did not appear to be stifling innovation, although at some public campuses those regulations made innovation more difficult. (SLD)

Too many institutions, it is suggested, are not maintaining standards of time, content, expectations, cooperation, and ethical behavior. To the extent that colleges and universities fail to set and maintain high standards in each category, the entire educational system suffers. (MLW)