6.2.1lp5 Directed Independent Study

Adopted: December 3, 2012
Scope: Students
Contact: Vice President of Academic Affairs
Owner: Vice President of Academic Affairs
Forms: Directed Independent Study Approval Form

Introduction

Directed independent study (DIST) is an opportunity for students to earn credit for learning outside the formal classroom structure and is provided to fill an instructional need of importance to students that cannot be filled by the regular curriculum. In many cases, DIST courses allow students to go into greater depth on a topic covered by a regular course and meet the requirements for program elective credit. In other cases, DIST courses allow students to study specific program or course competencies in order to meet warranty claim requirements.

Directed independent study is a mode of instruction whereby an individual student enrolls for a class with a regular faculty member. The student assumes the major responsibility for completing the independent study with guidance of the program instructor. The instructor will meet periodically with the student, make suggestions, propose readings/research/activities, and grade the final assignment. Largely on his/her own, the student will create the initial proposal via the Directed Independent Study Approval Form and do all work necessary to complete an acceptable independent study product in one semester.

Eligibility

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

A minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA
Completion of all required pre-requisite courses
Approval of instructor, dean, and appropriate vice president via Directed Independent Study Approval Form
Students may enroll in DIST courses in the same time frame as all other courses

Restrictions

Lanier Technical College does not normally allow Directed Independent Study credit for internship experiences, work-study or hourly paid work done on or off campus, or for work also compensated by a salary.
DIST courses cannot be used to substitute for required program or general education courses or for individualized instruction courses.
Students must have at least a 2.5 grade point average in their coursework in order to register for a DIST course.
Students can only register for one DIST course per semester.
Students can enroll in no more than two DIST courses during their program of study.
All credit must be awarded in the semester in which the work is undertaken.

Procedure

A student wishing to enroll in a DIST course should begin by completing the Directed Independent Study Approval Form prior to the final day of Returning Student Advisement/Registration. The form must include the scope of the independent study project and the expected outcome.
A student should then consult with a faculty member in the department who may be willing to supervise the study. Faculty may or may not agree to supervise a DIST course at their sole discretion.
If the faculty member is satisfied that the student can complete the DIST course in one semester and that the project is significant and relevant to his/her program of study, he/she may accept supervision of the project by signing the Directed Independent Study Approval Form.
Upon acceptance, the student will participate with the instructor in the development of a syllabus for the project including the method of final assessment and number of credit hours to be awarded (not to exceed 12 credit hours per DIST course).
The course number will be determined by the number of credit hours to be awarded (i.e., DIST 1001 = 1 credit hour; DIST 1004 = 4 credit hours).
The instructor will submit the Directed Independent Study Approval Form to the dean or coordinator of evening programs for review and approval prior to the end of the semester.
The dean or coordinator of evening programs will submit the Directed Independent Study Approval Form to the appropriate vice president for review and approval.
Once the vice president approves the form, he/she will submit it to the academic programs secretary who will create a CRN and add the course to the schedule.
DIST credit will be granted upon satisfactory completion of the project requirements as defined in the Directed Independent Study Approval Form.