Self Paced Instruction
Self-paced instruction (SPI) is often referred to as personalized instruction in master learning. Self-paced courses are designed to permit students to complete courses as rapidly as they are capable, or to take more time if needed to master them. SPI usually requires no formal class meetings, although in many courses the instructor meets once a week with a group of students desiring additional interaction or discussion. Most student-instructor contact in SPI is on an individual basis. Students enrolled in SPI courses are expected to interact with the professor either individually or in a group situation at least once each week or as often as a given course requires.
Self-paced courses are offered in many fields or degree programs. Students in SPI courses are provided with a course outline including instructions for study, activities to complete, sources of information and other necessary instructions. Students may visit the instructor as often as needed to discuss and clarify the course material and to answer questions. When students believe they have mastered a unit within a SPI course, they may take the appropriate test. If students pass at the prescribed level, they proceed to the next unit. In some courses, if students do not pass the unit, they may restudy it until they pass the test. Each unit must be passed in sequential order, so when all units and tests are successfully completed, students should have mastered the course material.
Since students may not need to attend class in SPI courses, they may begin such courses at any time up to four weeks prior to the end of the semester. Established deadlines for adding or dropping courses published in the course schedule refer to courses taught only on a conventional basis and not to courses taught on an SPI basis. SPI courses may not be dropped during final examination week. Although students have the option of continuing an SPI course into a succeeding semester, they are encouraged to complete it during the same semester for which they register. Students who do not complete the course in one semester's time may receive a grade of Z (satisfactory work in progress) and must reregister during a subsequent semester when the course is offered and pay tuition for the course if completion is desired.
Partially self-paced courses are administered on the same basis as regular courses. The registration, drop-add, withdrawal, course completion and grading for partially self-paced courses are administered as all other conventional classes.