Low Course-Enrollment Policy

Policy Number: 3349-AC-264
Effective Date: 12/1/2021
Updated: —
Reviewed: —
Responsible Department: Office of the Registrar
Approval Authority: Provost

1. PURPOSE
   Minimum and maximum course enrollment expectations are based on a strategic balance of best practices in teaching and learning, faculty and staff availability, available resources, and opportunities for collaboration. This policy establishes the standards and procedure for annual review of course enrollment to determine appropriate action for courses that do not meet enrollment standards.
2. SCOPE
   This policy applies to all courses in all colleges of the university which set a minimum enrollment. Exceptions to this policy include: research experiences, independent study courses, experiential courses and clinical electives, other courses specifically designed for a low faculty to student ratio, or courses delivered by another university.
3. DEFINITIONS
   1. “Low Enrollment” is when the enrollment of any course is below five (5) students.
   2. “Experiential Courses” – M3 Clerkships, M4 Clinical Elective Rotations, P1-P3
      Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE), P4 Advance Pharmacy
      Practice Experience (APPE).
   3. “Independent Study” is a method in which a student requests or the Committee on Academic and Professional Progress (CAPP) recommends a course used for students on or off-track to complete course content independently.
4. POLICY STATEMENT
   1. The Office of the Registrar will report the total student enrollment of each course to the Dean of each college and the Office of the Provost no later than three weeks before the start of each term. Any non-exempt course that meets the Low Enrollment threshold will be indicated as such and a review of those courses will be initiated by the Office of the Registrar and conducted by the educational leadership of the college (e.g., respective associate/vice dean, curriculum committee, department chair, program director, etc.) at the discretion of the Dean.
      1. A review of courses with Low Enrollment will include a review of the following criteria:
      2. Quality – student success, retention, and completion
      3. Centrality to the institution’s mission – relevant to strategic plan
      4. Cost-effectiveness – revenue and faculty to student ratio
      5. Program demand and enrollment
      6. Potential for collaboration – similar course offering in another college or institution
      7. Potential for restructuring
   2. Following the review of a course with Low Enrollment, the college must develop an action plan to either cancel or restructure the course based on the following considerations:
      1. the effect of cancellation of the course on student academic progress and graduation;
      2. the need for the course to contribute to appropriate program breadth and curriculum;
      3. commitments made to instructors or faculty that a course would be offered, and;
      4. opportunities to collaborate or share course offerings with another college or institution.
   3. Upon receiving the action plan of the college, the Office of the Registrar will either cancel or reclassify the course with Low Enrollment.
   4. A report of the review of course enrollment and any actions taken to mitigate Low Enrollment will be created by the Office of the Provost in collaboration with the Office of the Registrar every five years, variable to change based on Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and State of Ohio requirements. The report is submitted to the NEOMED Board of Trustees for final review before submission to the ODHE.

Download the Policy (PDF)