Strategies for Classroom Scheduling
Time Blocks
Below are high-subscribed and low-subscribed time blocks. Departments have been asked to not put more than a limited number of sections in any given high-subscribed block. To clarify: this limitation is for sections that use traditional, shared classroom spaces and not for labs, studios, and specialty spaces.
High-subscribed blocks
9:45 MWF, MTWF, MTWRF
11:00 MWF, MTWF, MTWRF
12:15 MWF, MTWF, MTRF MTWRF
1:30 MWF, MTRF, MTWRF
2:45 MW or MWF, MTRF, MTWRF
9:45 TR
11:45 TR
1:30 TR
Low-subscribed blocks
8:00 MW
8:30 MWF, MTWF, MTWRF
4:00 MWF, MTRF, MTWRF
8:00 TR
3:15 TR
Ideas for using all time blocks:
Think about the strategy to assign class sections to traditionally low-subscribed blocks.
- higher-demand courses
- highly sought faculty
- courses required for the major
- courses with multiple sections
Individual faculty preferences:
Matching classroom capacities and enrollments will be of paramount importance, and faculty will have to show greater flexibility in terms of classroom location, configuration, features, etc., and be less focused on personal preferences than in the past.
From the faculty's Course Scheduling Guidelines:
A general principle of course scheduling is that every faculty member should expect to teach some classes at less-popular times and in less-than-first-choice locations. Department heads have the primary responsibility to work out a plan for teaching schedules each term that takes full advantage of all the possible teaching hours and spaces and best meets the needs of their majors and non-majors.
Individual faculty members should first consult with their department heads to reach a compromise between their preferred times and spaces and the limitations imposed by the course-scheduling guidelines. The deans and the registrar's staff are available to discuss ways to attempt to meet everyone's course scheduling and classroom needs.