<p>Where can I learn more about a college’s responsibilities to ensuring all students in a course have the same amount of classroom hours of instruction offered?</p>
<p>Is there such a thing? Back when I was in college, some classes met for longer than others-same class/same level but just more work was expected outside of class. Some kids preferred that, others did not. Maybe I am not understanding what you are asking though?</p>
<p>Are you asking if there is uniformity between instructors teaching the same course and/or between sections/times with the same instructor?</p>
<p>In theory all sections of the same course should have the same number of contact hours. There are some courses, such as lab courses, that have more contact hours than pure lecture sections. </p>
<p>In practice, sometimes the professor will be out sick or gone at a conference. In the latter case, coverage is usually found or the students are given an evaluated out-of-class assignment to keep instruction moving forward. Sometimes professors schedule one-on-one conferences with students over class time. Sometimes a lecture ends early and the professor will stay behind to speak to students.</p>
<p>There is no way of ensuring that each student spends exactly the same number of minutes as every other student with the professor, if that’s what you’re asking. Part of this depends on the student. If a student misses classes, the university doesn’t have to provide makeups. Professors don’t have to provide one-on-one instruction in such cases either.</p>
<p>If you think there is a problem with a professor cancelling too many classes or something of that nature, contact the department chair first before going to a dean.</p>
<p>Are you saying that some students in a particular class are getting more classroom hours than others?</p>
<p>In any case, the Dean is not your first stop. It is the professor, followed by the department chair, then followed by the dean, provost etc.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that you are the student with the issue, not a parent. It is, of course, never appropriate for a parent to initiate the complaint (although sitting next to your student and coaching them through the grievance would be fine).</p>
<p>In state-supported schools, there is a formula for number of hours of class per credit hour. That is why when there is an emergency, such as hurricane or snow storm, it is made up if too much time is missed. This does not often happen because schools build in a little extra.</p>
<p>I also don’t understand what you are talking about- “responsibility…”. Look at the college website and its online timetable. Usually a lecture/discussion course (labs are different) for the same number of credits will have the same number of “hours” (this may be a 50 minute time). I doubt students will be shortchanged with meeting 2 times per week or 3 for 3 credits for example. Every student will know the class hours before they start a course. Parents may be lucky enough their son or daughter tells them which courses they are taking, and when they meet. </p>
<p>If the STUDENT feels as though a certain professor/lecturer et al is not meeting the timetable hours it is his/her job to go through the procedures as stated in post #5.</p>
<p>Remember, even if parents are paying the bills the college/U has a relationship with the enrolled student, not the bill payer. This holds true even if the student is still a minor.</p>
<p>PS- throughout my college years and son’s I never did figure out what a Dean did for me/him- except to send a letter about making the “Dean’s list”. TA’s and professors, including that year’s chairman, can be useful.</p>