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Schedule Template Guidelines

The Schedule Template Guidelines are intended to provide departments and deans with consistent guidance in scheduling course sections in order to minimize conflicts, ensure that students are able to register for a full load (15 credits), and increase availability of courses required in the major.  These goals are critical for student success, retention, and timely completion of the degree.  Consistent scheduling is also necessary to allow the College to more efficiently use its classroom resources, including maximizing the use of “Smart” classrooms.

Specifically, departments are to be mindful of “bottleneck” or prime time periods, particularly for courses held between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which create scheduling and space conflicts, limit students' course selection, and make course selection difficult for non-traditional or working students.  The scheduling of course sections also needs to take into account the actual enrollment of the section and room capacity in order to maximize space utilization and enhance students’ overall learning environment.

The following guidelines are applicable for both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Course Scheduling Template

  1. Three credit-hour course sections will meet for 150 minutes and will be scheduled within the existing template  either MWF for three 50 minute blocks of T/TH for two 75 minute blocks
     
  2. Four credit-hour course sections will meet for a total of 200 minutes, must adhere to the following options:
    1. MW/WF 8-9:40; 8:30-10:10; 1-2:40; 4-5:40
    2. TR 8:30-10:10; 9-10:40; 1-2:40, after 5
    3. 4-day per week, 50-minute classes: MTWF 8-8:50, 9-9:50, 1-1:50
       
  3. WAYS Class Blocks:
    1. MWF 10-10:50, 11-11:50
    2. TR 11:30-12:45, 1-2:15 

Additional Guidelines

  1. When developing course schedules, departments can request up to three classroom choices per course into the CPI; in most cases, actual rooms are assigned by the Registrar.(The limitation of three choices is due to the software used; however, if departments wish to request additional classrooms they can do so using the text boxes provided.)
  2. Departments and deans are to recommend classrooms based on actual course enrollments and the stated capacity of the rooms, and not on historical precedent or convenience of the classroom’s location.This does not apply to classrooms with very specialized purposes (e.g., science laboratories, computer labs, studios).
  3. Any deviations from the course scheduling template must first be approved by the Dean.Regularly occurring exemptions, such as studios, internships, and practica, will also need approval by the Dean. Schedule Template Exemption Forms (PDF) are to be forwarded from the Dean to the Office of the Registrar.
  4. Departments are to avoid scheduling courses during Governance Hour, which is on Thursdays between 4-5 p.m. and Fridays 3-4 p.m. Holding this time open is critical to both faculty and student governance (SGA also meets at this time).Those seeking exceptions to Governance Hour must complete the Faculty Governance Hour Exemption Form (PDF), which is to be approved by the appropriate Chair and Dean.A copy of the completed form is to be sent to the Registrar. (Please note: Because of the importance of keeping Governance Hour clear, departments are highly encouraged not to schedule T/TH course sections that would conflict with this time.)
  5. Science Labs should also be scheduled to avoid Faculty Governance Hour. Lab options include MTWRF 1 – 3:50 (or 1-250 for 2hr labs); exemptions for second sections of labs will be honored 
  6. Science Labs should also be scheduled to avoid Faculty Governance Hour.Therefore, it is recommended that afternoon labs be scheduled between 1-4 p.m.
  7. Departments are strongly encouraged to coordinate across units to minimize overlap of common required courses (e.g., when scheduling courses required for majors with co-requisites in other departments).
  8. When scheduling late afternoon and evening course sections, keep in mind possible conflicts with extra-curricular and co-curricular activities (e.g., labs, ensemble practices, dance/theatre rehearsals, FYSS) as well as studios and practica; these experiences are also important to students’ retention and overall academic success.
  9. At least 20% of the course sections offered by a School or a Department must be outside of Prime Time, defined as beginning before 10 a.m. or at 2 p.m. or later, or taught as a weekend course.
  10. At least 10% of the course sections offered by a School or a Department must include a Friday meeting.
  11. Each Department should review the number of course sections offered in each time slot in order to spread them more evenly across the template; in particular, sections planned during prime times between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. should be scheduled carefully.Individual Instructors are advised that these times should be avoided if they expect to teach in a Projector/Smart classroom or wish to be assigned a particular classroom.
  12. The scheduling of large classrooms should be monitored by the deans to avoid scheduling multiple large classes at the same time.
  13. The Dean will work with chairs/program directors to develop the final course schedule, and has final approval of the schedule for the School.

Note:  The 2025 Schedule Template Guidelines were endorsed by Faculty Senate and approved by President Suzanne Smith on December 5, 2024.