Sec. 13b.02.02.03. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) Academic Credit.

(a) "Academic credit" means the certification of a student's successful completion of a unit of a course of study leading to a formal award granted by an in-State institution approved to offer a collegiate degree, such as an associate or higher degree.

(b) "Academic credit" does not include credit that may be awarded for remedial education.

(2) "Associate degree-granting institution" means an institution that awards a degree at the associate level in two or more instructional programs and does not award a higher degree.

(3) "Certificate of advanced study" means a certificate awarded for successful completion of at least 30 semester credit hours of graduate study beyond the master's degree.

(4) Classroom Instruction.

(a) "Classroom instruction" means live instruction for academic credit that allows immediate interaction between student and instructor, such as lectures, laboratory instruction, seminars, colloquia, interactive instructional television, and, if immediate live feedback is available from an instructor, independent study and computer-aided instruction.

(b) "Classroom instruction" does not include instruction through correspondence, non-interactive learning, credit for prior learning, cooperative education activities, practica, internships, externships, apprenticeships, portfolio review, departmental examinations, or challenge examinations.

(5) "Closed site" means a business, organization, educational entity, or government site that offers courses solely for its own employees.

(6) "Commission" means the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

(6-1) “C-RAC guidelines” means the Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education adopted by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions.

(7) "Credit for prior learning" means credit granted toward the award of a certificate or degree for experiential learning that can be shown through various means of assessment to be the equivalent of learning gained through formal collegiate instruction.

(8) "Degree-granting institution" means an associate degree-granting institution and an institution granting baccalaureate or higher degrees.

(9) "Distance education" means education that uses one or more of the following technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor, and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously:

(a) Internet;

(b) One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communication devices;

(c) Audio conferencing; and

(d) Video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with a technology listed in §B(9)(a)-(c) of this regulation.

(10) "Formal award" means a certificate or degree that is conferred by the faculty and ratified by the in-State institution's governing board in recognition of successful completion of the requirements of a program.

(11) "FTE" means full-time equivalent.

(12) "Full-time faculty member" means an employee:

(a) Whose primary professional responsibility is instruction, research, scholarship, or service;

(b) Who performs those functions normally expected of a full-time faculty member at an institution of higher education, including curriculum development, student advising, and institutional service;

(c) Who is employed on an annual or renewable contract of at least 9 months length that stipulates an annual salary; and

(d) Who is not employed full-time by another employer.

(13) "In-State institution" means a degree-granting institution whose primary campus is in Maryland and whose authority to grant degrees is conferred by Maryland.

(14) "Institution granting baccalaureate or higher degrees" means an institution that awards a degree at the baccalaureate or graduate level, including:

(a) 4-year colleges and universities; and

(b) Separately incorporated graduate institutions and centers.

(15) "Lower division certificate" means a certificate awarded for successful completion of at least 12 semester credit hours at the freshman or sophomore levels, or both.

(16) "Major field of study" means that portion of the course work of a program related directly to the academic discipline in which the student is specializing.

(17) "New degree" means a degree level not specified in an in-State institution's certificate of approval or authorized by its charter such as an associate level, bachelor's level, master's level, doctoral level, or first professional level.

(18) "Non-accredited in-State institution" is an in-State institution that is not accredited by an organization recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education to grant institutional accreditation.

(19) "Off-campus program" means:

(a) More than 1/3 of the required course work in a major field of study leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree or graduate certificate offered by an approved or chartered in-State institution at a location other than the principal location of the sponsoring institution during any 12-month period; or

(b) Course work offered at a location other than the principal location of an approved or chartered in-State institution that is advertised as leading to an undergraduate or graduate degree or to a graduate certificate at that location, regardless of the portion of a program offered at that location.

(20) "Off-campus site" means a facility other than the main campus of an approved or chartered in-State institution that:

(a) Is not a closed site but is open to the general public;

(b) Offers three or more off-campus programs by that institution; and

(c) Does not offer substantially all the instruction necessary to offer an undergraduate degree.

(21) "Out-of-State institution" means a degree-granting institution whose primary campus is outside of Maryland and whose authority to grant degrees is conferred by another state.

(22) "Post-baccalaureate certificate" means a certificate awarded for successful completion of at least 12 semester credit hours at the graduate or upper divisional level, the majority of which are at the master's or specialized postgraduate level.

(23) "Post-master's certificate" means a certificate awarded for successful completion of at least 12 semester credit hours of graduate study beyond the master's degree.

(24) "Program" means a structured and coherent course of study with clearly defined objectives and intended student learning outcomes, requiring the completion of a specified number of course credits from among a prescribed group of courses, which leads to the award of a certificate or degree.

(25) "Regional higher education center" means a higher education facility in the State that:

(a) Includes participation by two or more institutions of higher education in the State;

(b) Offers an array of program offerings;

(c) Offers multiple degree levels; and

(d) Is either affiliated with an institution of higher education or is established by statute.

(26) "Remedial education" means a course or series of courses or services, or both, designed to remedy deficiencies in preparation for college-level work, especially in reading, writing, mathematics, and study skills that cannot be applied to credit for a degree or certificate.

(27) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Higher Education.

(28) "Segment of higher education" means:

(a) The University System of Maryland;

(b) Morgan State University;

(c) St. Mary's College of Maryland;

(d) The Maryland community colleges;

(e) The Maryland Independent College and University Association; and

(f) The Maryland Association of Private Colleges and Career Schools.

(29) "Separately incorporated graduate institution or center" means a public or private institution of higher education that:

(a) Is a separately incorporated entity not owned or operated by an approved college or university offering baccalaureate or higher degrees;

(b) Awards the master's, doctoral, or first professional degree in one or more academic disciplines, but does not award the baccalaureate degree; and

(c) Offers appropriate courses in support of the academic disciplines.

(30) "Upper division certificate" means a certificate awarded for successful completion of at least 12 semester credit hours at the junior or senior levels, or both.