Contact Hour: An instructional unit of time in which a student has contact with an instructor; includes both lecture and laboratory time.
Credit Hour: The unit of credit earned for course work. Each college course is worth a certain number of credit or semester hours. This number is determined by the type of class and the number of hours per week it meets. For example, a three-credit-hour class (English, history, etc.) meets three hours per week during the fall/spring semester; a four-credit-hour class (science, languages, etc.) meets six hours per week.
Workload: A full-time instructor's contractual workload is a minimum of 30 hours each week on campus. A full-time instructor's workload shall include a teaching assignment that normally shall not exceed 15-credit hours, posted office hours spread throughout the week, and campus time that may include, but is not limited to, class preparation, registration, commencement and similar activities. The performance of these activities may vary for non-traditional instruction such as distance learning that may not require on campus instruction. A normal teaching assignment may also include evening and weekend classes. The Chancellor shall establish equivalent teaching assignments for lab hours, self-paced instruction and other non-traditional modes of instruction.
A part-time (adjunct) instructor's maximum workload is not to exceed 14.7 hours each week on campus (49 percent of a full-time instructor's workload). A part-time instructor's workload shall include preparing for and teaching assigned classes, providing consultation to students, conducting examinations and submitting grades to the college. Like a full-time instructor, activities may vary for non-traditional instruction. The college shall compensate part-time instructors for additional activities as assigned.
Semester: This is the description of a specified period of work under this guideline. Length varies and load is calculated separately for fall, spring, each summer semester and each semester of a nontraditional length (i.e., may-mester, winter term, etc.)
Supplemental employment: is a term describing extra service, adjunct employment or overload and applies to DCCCD faculty, administrative and professional support staff who may take on additional assignments/duties beyond the regular scope of their position.