COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION (CBE)
Online Learning Acknowledgement
This learning contract establishes the expectations and responsibilities associated with this course and the online Competency-Based Education (CBE) flex-paced model that is being used for its delivery. If you have questions regarding any of the following, please contact your instructor or student success coach via the contact information on your course homepage.
By reading and signing this learning contract, you acknowledge that you understand the following about CBE’s flex-paced learning and your responsibilities as a student:
FLEX-PACED: CBE is a unique educational delivery model that lets you progress through course materials at a flexible pace, allowing you to unlock modules and complete coursework more quickly than the traditional delivery format, provided that you are making academic progress (see 4. ACADEMIC PROGRESS below).
COURSE DESIGN: The course design is modularized and requires you to successfully complete each competency module with a passing grade of 80% or higher (“mastery”) before moving on to the next module within the course. If you complete all module content and have not achieved mastery of a module, your instructor will provide extra assignments and assessments (called “remediation”) that will allow you the opportunity to master the module and move forward in the course content. The amount of remediation work required will be at the discretion of the instructor and will be required until mastery is achieved. Please note that remediation in the final week of the course may be limited, so it is important to complete and submit course work earlier in the semester to have time to successfully complete the modules and pass the course.
ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENTS: Individual assignments & assessments due dates are flexible; however, there will be suggested due dates on a Course Pacing Plan to help you stay on track to complete the course on time. You are more likely to succeed if you complete your work at or before the suggested due dates on the Course Pacing Plan.
Coursework will be submitted online through Brightspace or approved course tools. You must
have appropriate computer technology and reliable internet access to successfully complete online coursework.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS: You must complete all coursework by the end date of the course AND successfully complete all competency modules at 80% or above to pass a CBE course, subject to the following:
You may complete the course before the end of the course, but you may not submit coursework after the end date.
Your instructor will inform you of a closing submission due date that is prior to the end of the course. Work submitted after that date cannot be remediated (see 2. COURSE DESIGN) and will not be counted toward your completion of the course. Your instructor may indicate additional required due dates.
You may complete no more than one module in the final week of the course.
NOTE: If you are making satisfactory progress, the CBE Success Coach may choose to reach out only as needed to support you. If you are not making satisfactory academic progress, the CBE Success Coach will reach out weekly for an update on your plan to complete coursework. Remember that your success coach is available whenever you need assistance, so please reach out to them.
GRADING SCALE: CBE courses have a different grading scale than non-CBE courses. In CBE, you will receive one of three possible final grades only: A, B, or F (fail). CBE grading is based on mastery of a skill for the grade defined as 80% or above.
To achieve an “A”, you must achieve mastery at a level of 90% or above in ALL modules.
To achieve a “B” you must achieve a mastery at a level of at least 80% but less than 89.9% in ALL modules.
Any score less than 79.9% will result in the final grade of F.
A grade of “Incomplete” (I) will not be awarded in CBE courses.