“Standards for Formal (campus-based) Programs”
“Standards for Non-formal (part-time, campus-based) programs”
ÅÀAÀ schools can have both traditional - residential and/or part-time - non-formal
(correspondence, distance, etc.) forms of education. At the same time, different
requirements - in schools with different types of education - must provide results
of the same quality independent of the form of education. That is, it is assumed
that a diploma in an accredited school certifies the quality of education regardless
of whether the school is traditional or non-formal.
Therefore, the standards for non-formal forms of
education are intended to establish equivalent credit weight to those in traditional - residential programs.
The form of education is considered "Traditional
- residential" if students spend the majority of their study time (not less
than 85%) and obtain their primary knowledge and skills on campus.
The form of education is considered "Non-formal" if students
spend no less than one third of their study time and achieve no less than one third of their credit load on campus,
while the other two-thirds (or less) of their credit load is takes place through their own self-preparation off campus.
The form of education is considered: "Correspondence"
if students complete a majority of their studies independently off campus with
only 10-15% of their study time on campus, where the testing of students' knowledge
and skills takes place, the prerequisites for their self-preparation are met,
and the directions and instructions for accomplishing their assignments are
given.*
Other types of alternative education (especially with computer technology)
requires additional delineation.
*Translator's note: Western education can be divided into two broad,
general categories: formal and non-formal, while Russian/Ukrainian education
is usually divided into three categories. Thus the extra categories 0.4 and
0.5 which would normally be included in non-formal in the West.
GENERAL INFORMATION