Academic Affairs Processes and Procedures

Effective Date: 2024

1. Purpose
These are established guidelines for the Direct Credit program between Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and partnering K-12 school districts that offer Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The program allows approved K-12 educators to teach CTE programs equivalent to GVSU courses, fulfill high school graduation requirements, and generate GVSU transcripts for participating students.

2. Eligibility
2.1 K-12 School Districts: A formal partnership agreement must be reached with GVSU to participate in the Direct Credit program.
2.2 K-12 Educators:
      a. Must be employed by a partnering K-12 school district.
      b. Must hold appropriate teaching credentials as required by the State of Michigan.
      c. Must meet GVSU's adjunct faculty qualifications for the specific course they will teach.
2.3 Students:
      a. Must be enrolled in a participating K-12 school district.
      b. Must meet any prerequisites for the GVSU course as outlined in the university catalog.
      c. Must have approval from their high school counselor or administrator to enroll in the Direct Credit course.
      d. Must earn a B or better in the approved program to qualify for direct credit.

3. Course Approval Process
3.1 The K-12 school district submits a Direct Credit course equivalency proposal form to GVSU's Office of the Provost.
3.2 GVSU's relevant academic department reviews the proposed course syllabus, learning outcomes, and assessment methods to ensure equivalency with the corresponding GVSU course.
3.3 Upon approval, the course is added to the approved Direct Credit offerings list.

4. Instructor Approval and Support
4.1 K-12 educators interested in teaching a Direct Credit course must submit faculty qualifications Assurance (FQA) documents (e.g., transcript and resume).
4.2 Approved instructors will be assigned a GVSU faculty mentor from the relevant academic department.

5. Course Delivery and Assessment
5.1 Direct Credit courses will be taught on the Career Tech Center or High School campuses during the regular school day.
5.2 Courses must follow the approved syllabus and use instructional materials that align with GVSU's corresponding course.
5.3 Assessment methods and grading standards must be consistent with those used in the equivalent GVSU course.
5.4 GVSU reserves the right to conduct periodic site visits and evaluations to ensure course quality and consistency.

6. Credit and Transcripts
6.1 Students who complete a Direct Credit course with a B or better will receive both high school and GVSU college credit.
6.2 GVSU will generate an official transcript for each student, reflecting the course name, credit hours and grades earned.
6.3 Credits earned through the Direct Credit program are applied to GVSU degree programs and may be transferable to other institutions, subject to their transfer policies.

7. Tuition and Fees
7.1 Students enrolled in Direct Credit courses will be charged a reduced tuition rate, which will be determined annually by GVSU.
7.2 Payment arrangements will be established between GVSU and the partnering K-12 districts. 

8. Program Evaluation
8.1 The Office of the Provost will conduct annual evaluations of the Direct Credit program, including student performance data, instructor feedback, and alignment with university standards.
8.2 The university reserves the right to modify or terminate the program based on evaluation results and institutional priorities.

9. Guideline Review
9.1 The Office of the Provost will review these guidelines annually in collaboration with relevant academic departments