Sec. 13b.02.03.02. Definitions

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

B. Terms Defined.

(1) “Area of concentration” means a sequential arrangement of courses within a program that:

(a) At the associate’s level is at least 12 semester credit hours, and not greater than 30 semester credit hours;

(b) At the bachelor’s level is at least 24 semester credit hours;

(c) At the master’s level is at least 12 semester credit hours above the bachelor’s degree; and

(d) At the doctoral level is at least 18 semester credit hours above the master’s degree.

(1-1) “Articulation agreement” means a signed written agreement between institutions of higher education regarding the transfer of academic credits from one institution to the other.

(2) “Articulation system (ARTSYS)” means a computerized data information system created to facilitate the transfer of students from Maryland community colleges to the University System of Maryland and other participating institutions.

(3) “Certificate” includes:

(a) Lower division certificate;

(b) Upper division certificate;

(c) Post-baccalaureate certificate;

(d) Post-master's certificate;

(e) Professional certificate;

(f) Certificate of advanced study; and

(g) Directed Technology Certificate.

(4) “Commission” means the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

(4-1) “C-RAC guidelines” means the Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education adopted by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions.

(5) “Degree” includes:

(a) Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.);

(b) Associate of Arts (A.A.);

(c) Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.);

(d) Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.);

(e) Associate of Science (A.S.);

(f) Associate of Science in Engineering (A.S.E.);

(g) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.);

(h) Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.);

(i) Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.);

(j) Bachelor of Science (B.S.);

(k) Bachelor of Technical Studies (B.T.S.);

(l) Master’s; and

(n) Doctorate.

(6) “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(6)(a)-(c) of this regulation.

(7) “Distance education course” means a course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education, except that requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course from being classified as a distance education course.

(8) “Distance education program” means a program for which all the required coursework for program completion may be completed by distance education courses.

(9) “Formal award” means a certificate or degree granted in recognition of successful completion of the requirements of a program, conferred by the faculty and ratified by an institution's governing board.

(10) “Historically black institution (HBI)” means a Maryland public historically black institution, including Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

(11) “Independent institution” means a private nonprofit institution of higher education.

(12) “In-State institution” means an institution of higher education whose primary campus is in Maryland and whose authority to grant degrees is conferred by Maryland.

(13) “Institution of higher education” means an institution of postsecondary education that generally limits enrollment to graduates of secondary schools, and awards degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, or graduate level.

(14) “Internship” means a supervised work experience or field placement in a student's program.

(15) “Joint degree” means a single degree offered by two or more institutions bearing the name and seal of each in which all cooperating institutions are substantively involved in required course work, faculty exchange, and shared use of facilities.

(16) Off-Campus Program.

(a) “Off-campus program” means, for institutions other than community colleges:

(i) A program in which more than 1/3 of the required course work leading to a bachelor’s degree or a certificate beyond the bachelor's level is offered by an institution at a location other than the principal location of the institution during any 12-month period; or

(ii) Course work offered at a location other than the principal location of an institution that is advertised as leading to a degree or a certificate beyond the bachelor's level at that location, regardless of the portion of a program offered at that location.

(b) “Off-campus program” means, for community colleges, course work offered outside the community college service area.

(17) On-campus Education.

(a) “On-campus education” means education in which the instruction occurs when the learner or learners and the instructor or instructors are in the same location, synchronously to all students.

(b) “On-campus education” may incorporate elements of technology, and may be web-enhanced, e.g., instruction with standard meeting places and times, which include an electronic component to deliver homework assignments or require e-mail exchanges between the instructor and students.

(18) “On-campus program” means a program that is not a distance education program.

(19) “Parallel program” means a program at a community college and a program at a public 4-year institution of higher education having comparable objectives.

(20) “Primary degree” means a single degree offered by one institution having responsibility for at least 2/3 of the course requirements in which cooperating institutions participate by the appropriate and complementary addition of courses, faculty, and facilities intended to complete the degree requirements of the primary institution.

(21) “Private for-profit institution” means a privately owned and operated institution of higher education that is intended to operate as a business.

(22) “Program” means a course of study requiring the completion of a specified number of semester credit hours from among a prescribed group of courses that leads to a formal award.

(23) “Program modality” means:

(a) Distance education; or

(b) On-campus education.

(24) “Program proposal” means a submission for a new program or substantial modification for review in the form and manner required by the Secretary.

(25) “Recommended transfer program (RTP)” means a program including both general education and courses in a major, taken at a community college, that is:

(a) Applicable to a bachelor’s degree at a 4-year institution; and

(b) Ordinarily the first two years of the bachelor’s degree.

(25-1) “Regional higher education center” has the meaning stated in Education Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(26) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Higher Education.

(27) “Segment” means:

(a) The University System of Maryland;

(b) Morgan State University;

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

(d) The Maryland Independent College and University Association;

(e) The Maryland Association of Private Colleges and Career Schools; and

(f) The Maryland Association of Community Colleges.

(28) “State Plan” means the document entitled Maryland State Plan for Postsecondary Education.

(29) “Substantial modification” means a major change in an existing program or area of concentration.

(30) “Undergraduate major” means, varying by degree program and subject area:

(a) A minimum of 30 semester credit hours, 1/2 of which must be upper-divisional credit, in one field or in an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field; and

(b) A coherent, sequential, and integrated program of study-in-depth which is intended to provide:

(i) A body of knowledge;

(ii) Methods of study; and

(iii) Practice appropriate to a subject area.