General Classroom Policies:
It is incumbent upon us as members of the University Community to use University resources wisely. Teaching facilities are a significant resource, and the availability of teaching facilities is finite.
Academic classroom space is not owned by academic units. Accordingly, classrooms are assigned and coordinated by one scheduling office.
In an effort to provide a course schedule that is conflict-free and results in an equitable distribution of these resources, the Bloomington Campus Calendar and Schedule Committee has developed the following policies governing the preparation and submission of schedule copy to the Office of the Registrar. These policies were developed in the spirit of providing course scheduling that permits access to available offerings by the greatest number of students and that allows the best match between the specific needs of the courses being offered and the existing facilities.
Most of the policies defined in this document are not new. They have been revised in a way that more clearly delineates priorities in room assignment. Some departments have already developed schedules that comply with these policies. Others will need to revise their scheduling practices in order to achieve priority in room assignment.
SCHEDULE COPY SUBMISSION
All departments on the Bloomington campus must publish their schedule of course offerings for each semester in the Schedule of Classes and Student Academic Information bulletin. In order to be given priority consideration during the initial room assignment process, schedule copy must be received by the Office of the Registrar by the due date.
TIME DISTRIBUTION
There is a greater likelihood of achieving optimum scheduling when all departments distribute their course offerings across all standard time periods within each room category at the rate of 55% or less during prime time and 45% or more during non-prime time. Each department must meet the prime/non-prime distribution of its requests at the time of submission. A priority rank will be assigned to each department on the basis of the distribution of its requests across all standard meeting times. A lower priority rank may result in the need for the department to change meeting time, day, building or room requests. Room request categories are defined as follows:
- Seminar rooms.
- Sections enrolling fewer than 58 students.
- Sections enrolling 58 - 89 students.
- Sections enrolling 90 or more students.
Prime time includes all instructional minutes scheduled between the hours of 9:05 a.m. and 2:29 p.m.
Non-prime time includes all instructional minutes scheduled between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 9:04 a.m. and between 2:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
STANDARD MEETING TIMES
Priority will be given to classes that meet during standard meeting times according to the following scheme:
50-minute classes begin at the following times:
Through Fall 2024
Start End 8:00 AM 8:50 AM 9:10 AM 10:00 AM 10:20 AM 11:10 AM 11:30 AM 12:20 PM 12:40 PM 1:30 PM 1:50 PM 2:40 PM 3:00 PM 3:50 PM 4:10 PM 5:00 PM 5:20 PM 6:10 PM 6:30 PM 7:20 PM 7:40 PM 8:30 PM 8:50 PM 9:40 PM Beginning Spring 2025
Start End 8:00 AM 8:50 AM 9:10 AM 10:00 AM 10:25 AM 11:15 AM 11:35 AM 12:25 PM 12:45 PM 1:35 PM 1:55 PM 2:45 PM 3:10 PM 4:00 PM 4:20 PM 5:10 PM 5:30 PM 6:20 PM 6:40 PM 7:30 PM 7:55 PM 8:45 PM 75-minute classes begin at the following times:
Through Fall 2024
Start End 8:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:45 AM 11:00 AM 11:30 AM 12:45 PM 1:15 PM 2:30 PM 3:00 PM 4:15 PM 4:45 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:45 PM 8:05 PM 9:20 PM Beginning Spring 2025
Start End 8:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:35 AM 10:50 AM 11:10 AM 12:25 PM 12:45 PM 2:00 PM 2:20 PM 3:35 PM 3:55 PM 5:10 PM 5:30 PM 6:45 PM 7:05 PM 8:20 PM 8:40 PM 9:55 PM Classes meeting longer than 75 minutes should begin at the same time as the standard 50-minute time period.
The following standard time/day sequences are presented in priority order:
- 50 - minute daily classes.
50 - minute classes 4 days/week.
50 - minute classes MWF.
75 - minute classes TR. - 50 - minute classes MW.
- 50 - minute classes TR.
- 75 - minute classes MW.
- Other classes will be scheduled as rooms are available.
- 50 - minute daily classes.
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION
Ordinarily, large rooms are considered efficiently used when they are filled to 90% or more of room capacity. Normally, smaller classrooms (1 - 57) are considered efficiently used when their enrollment reaches 75% or more of capacity.
Facility requirements for courses are sometimes based on the need for rooms of a certain seating capacity, and at other times on the need for rooms that accommodate or contain equipment that is essential to the course material or to the delivery of instruction. When time distribution and standard meeting time requirements have been met, assignment will be made with consideration to both estimated enrollment yielding the most efficient use of the space requested and the need for rooms with special facilities and equipment.
Occasions may arise when these two principles, the need for special facilities and the efficient use of space, will conflict. We recognize that this conflict represents a gray area in scheduling decisions. The Registrar will seek advice, consider this particular assignment in light of all others, and make a decision after consulting with faculty representatives.
Departments should base estimated enrollments on the actual enrollment during the previous corresponding semester. In courses enrolling 30 or more and where the estimated enrollment exceeds the actual enrollment during the previous corresponding semester by more than 15%, the department must attach a written explanation for the estimated enrollment. Unless the increase has been approved by the school's dean, assignment will be based on the actual enrollment during the previous corresponding semester, allowing for an increase of not more than 15%.
PRIOR ASSIGNMENTS
Classroom scheduling is a dynamic process, responsive each semester to both curricular and non-curricular changes and requirements. The assignment of a specific classroom at a particular time during the previous corresponding semester will not automatically result in the continuing assignment of the same room at the same time. Even if the room was efficiently used during the previous semester, all other requirements above must be met before the request will be given priority consideration.
PRIORITY ROOMS
A number of schools have priority in the scheduling of particular general classrooms. The school is expected to adhere to these policies and efficiently utilize general classrooms in which they have priority. Additionally, the Office of the Registrar will commence scheduling these rooms after the school has been given the opportunity to schedule its classes.
SETTING ASIDE SPACE
The purpose of the set aside must be included as a part of the request (i.e. offering of weekly colloquia).
Set aside requests for classrooms with a capacity of 162 or more will be processed after classroom assignment if space is available.
Set aside requests for classrooms with a capacity of less than 162, which meet the following criteria, will be processed prior to room assignment:
Requested time frame should be 4:45 pm or later Monday-Thursday, or 1:50 pm or later on Friday.
Requested room capacity should be no more than 25% above expected attendance.
The Office of the Registrar is granted authority by the Bloomington Campus Classroom Assignments Committee, whose members are appointed by the Provost, to apply and enforce these policies so that an efficient and effective conflict-free schedule can be developed. Every effort will be made to distribute all teaching facilities in an equitable fashion. When scheduling difficulties arise, opportunities exist for scheduling officers to consult with a representative from the Office of the Registrar. If following consultation no agreeable assignment can be identified, the course will not be available for student enrollment.