https://pixabay.com/photos/censorship-limitations-610101/
The Carnegie Unit
is a bit of an enigma. It is one of those things that most people know about,
but few understand its true impact. What is the Carnegie Unit? Simply put, it
is a measure of time that students spend studying a subject. Sometimes it is
referred to as credit hours or contact hours. It can be broken down into
minutes, weeks, semesters, terms, or years. But what might seem like a benign
measurement has a significant impact on academic institutions around the world.
The Carnegie Unit
measures the amount of time a student has studied a subject. It also serves to
standardize education for degree, certificate, or diploma completion. The
Carnegie Unit (and variations of it) has a significant impact on the deep
structures of academic institutions. While the intention may have been good, it
has had some unintended consequences.
A time-based education
model means all degrees, diplomas, and certificates require a similar number of
years to complete. Whether the program is chemistry, philosophy, business, or
biology; students are required to attend the same amount of time to attain the
degree. It is difficult, if not impossible to rationalize that a degree in anthropology
or biology require the same amount of time to complete.
The Carnegie unit
(and variations) is also used to define student loans and funding parameters. Financial
aid is based on credit hours and students are ineligible for programs that do
not meet the requirements. Programs that could have been completed in six
months can end up expanded to meet funding requirements to increase enrollment.
It is time for us
to re-think the way we measure and evaluate learning. Moving away from the Carnegie
Unit and its variations would benefit learners. Learners can complete programs
at their own pace and skill level. This would also result in learners entering
the job market at a faster rate. Programs would be designed to only include
core content rather than developed to meet the requirements of academic
calendars.
The Carnegie Unit
was designed for a world that no longer exists, yet it continues to have a
stranglehold on higher education. It is important to be aware of its
implications and to think critically about the way it shapes our institutions. Educational
leaders who develop alternative systems based on mastery or competency will
have a significant competitive advantage.