Self Paced Instruction and Contract Study
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.
Self‑Paced Instruction (SPI) Enrollment Policy
Students are encouraged to enroll in Self‑Paced Instruction (SPI) courses as early as possible. SPI courses may be added until four weeks prior to the end of the fall or spring semester, with equivalent deadlines published in the summer class schedule. After the late registration period, SPI courses may only be added with the approval of both the instructor and the Dean of the academic unit offering the course. Students who do not complete an SPI course by the end of the semester must re‑register in a subsequent term in which the course is offered and pay all applicable tuition and fees. Students may drop an SPI course at any time up to the last official drop date listed in the University’s academic calendar.