Active Pursuit Standard
The following recommendations regarding an Active Pursuit Standard are to be implemented in individual courses and the Illinois Valley Community College catalog for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
- Instructors or departments should develop an Active Pursuit Standard for each course they teach.
- Instructors are encouraged to determine what qualifies as active pursuit in their individual courses. It is recommended that the standard is based on the personal pedagogy of the instructor and the nature and guidelines of the specific course (see examples in the FAQ below).
- Instructors should establish their policy at the beginning of the semester and it should be included in the course syllabus. It is recommended to be discussed orally in face-to-face courses.
- The college catalog and student handbook must outline an overview of Active Pursuit and what students should expect.
REMINDER ON TITLE IV FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Federal regulations require that colleges that receive Title IV funding have a procedure in place to know whether a student has begun attendance in all classes.
For federal purposes, a student is considered to have begun class they have attended at least one day of class prior to disbursal of Title IV aid. To meet this requirement, Illinois Valley Community College has the following process in place that will be done each semester for every class:
- Prior to the 12.5% completion point for each class (the refund deadline), faculty will receive email reminders as to when the 10th Day Verification process is to begin. This email will also include deadlines for completing 10th Day Verification. Deans will be notified of any roster(s) that are not verified by the deadline.
- For an online or blended/hybrid class without a face-to-face meeting before the 12.5% point, it is recommended to have one assignment (homework, discussion board posting, quiz, etc.) collected before the 12.5% point of the course.
Further, federal regulations require that colleges that receive Title IV funding to have a procedure in place to comply with the Return of Title IV funds for students who fail to complete at least 60% of their course work during a semester in which they are subject to the calculation.
Federal requirements measure this based off of the date of last attendance that faculty enter for grades of ‘F” or “W”. This is already in place at IVCC as part of the final grade submission procedure.
BENEFITS OF AN ACTIVE PURSUIT STANDARD
The implementation of an Active Pursuit Standard will provide several benefits to countless parties in the Illinois Valley Community College community namely students, faculty and staff, and the institution
Students
- Uniformity
- Consistency in academic advising/counseling
Faculty & Staff
- Diversity and instructional freedom
- Improved student retention
- Clearer communication between faculty, students, staff, and administration
Institutional
- More accurate enrollment management practice
- State and Federal Compliance