General:  The scheduled hours must match the hours as specified in the official, approved course outline.

Lecture Hours:  Each lecture hour must be scheduled in a physical location with an instructor present for the number of hours equal to the number of units. (One hour of lecture per week equals one unit). A schedule example for a four unit lecture course, which requires four hours of set time, could be "M-T-W-Th from 10:30 AM to 11:20 AM in Room L-24".  (Note:  in academia an ?Äòhour' actually equals 50 minutes as 10 minutes per hour are allowed for students to go between classes).

Laboratory Hours:   Laboratory hours are normally scheduled in a block, usually of three hours.  Laboratory hours must be scheduled in a physical location with an instructor present for the number of hours equal to the number of laboratory hours for that number of units.  (Three hours of laboratory each week equals one unit).  An example for a three laboratory hours per week class could be:  "M from 12:30 to 3:20 in S-2116" (with break time provided).   Direct instruction must happen during the laboratory hours and none of the hours can be used to have the students do 'homework'.

NOTE: Lecture, Laboratory Courses:  These are courses which have separate lecture hours and separate laboratory hours within the course outline.  (They are called "lecture comma laboratory" courses in the curriculum process). They require the separate scheduling as above and also must have a Section X:  Laboratory Topics in the course outline.

Lecture-Lab Hours:  Lecture-lab is a uniquely De Anza College classification.  It does not exist in Title 5.  Each lecture-laboratory hour must be scheduled in a physical location with an instructor present for the number of hours equal to the number of units. (Two hours of lecture-lab per week equals one unit).  An example for a two unit lecture-lab course might be "M and W from 12:30 to 2:20 in Room A-24".  (These classes are called "lecture dash lab" courses in the curriculum process).

Requirements for Hybrid Courses: All hybrid courses MUST have published in the schedule of classes the following information (which should also be on the instructor's green sheet with clearer directions as to how the student would do the distance portions):  When and where the class physically meets on campus and when (day and time) the instructor will be available on line.  The total time must match the time required for that class were it conducted completely on campus.  For example, two one hour meetings on campus a week, two on line hours of availability for the instructor a week for a 4 unit lecture class.  The students can continue to do the distance portion as they always have.  The instructor just must provide an on -line time of availability.  An example: (currently not a hybrid course but if it were...)

Biol 8:  Biology of Women meets physically Monday and Wednesday from 9:30AM until 10:20 AM in Room S-1102.  The instructor is available on line from 10:30 AM until 11:20AM on Monday and Wednesday.  This meets the four hours of 'lecture' time for a four hour lecture course.  This does NOT include the instructor's office hour which should be stated separately.

Distance Learning Courses:  Currently, the state has not mandated any changes in how we conduct or schedule courses which are conducted totally via distance methods.  However, it is likely the state will give us new directions in this matter in the future.  No course can become a distance learning course without having gone through the full and complete curriculum review process to obtain distance course approval.

NOTE on Method of Instruction:  The faculty in the department or program are the subject matter experts and should be the ones to determine how it is appropriate for a particular class to be taught based on what they feel is most effective for the students.  This must then be reflected accurately in the officially approved course outline and must be how the class is actually conducted.  All of this is subject to audit by the state and non-compliance can result in very large fines to the institution.

Courses with TBA Hours:  The use of TBA hours has been severely limited by the State.  Please contact your Dean for information about specific courses.  The following is provided as general information.

            Some courses, where the physical laboratory facility does not have enough space for all the students at once, may need to use a TBA hour format.  However, each student must be assigned a set time and place to perform those hours in the laboratory.  Additionally, the instructor must be present for all the laboratory hours.

            Some courses, such as Cooperative Education, Special Topics or Special Projects, will have TBA hours which are designated in a contract between the student and the instructor.  Currently, the state has not changed the guidance on these classes.

            Some courses, such as Child Development Courses, may involve outside sites for observational learning.  The state is in the process of giving us new guidance for these situations.

            Some areas may have an open entry, open exit, positive attendance only type of laboratory class.  In these, a person meeting minimal qualifications in the area of expertise of the laboratory (some may be at the career educational level, others need instructor qualifications) or an instructor must be physically present and involved in instructional activity.