Course Scheduling
Chairs are responsible for managing the course scheduling process for the department. Attempt to balance faculty and facility resource (supply) with student want and need (demand) for course sections to meet major requirements, interdisciplinary program participation, general education requirements, first year seminars and general interest.
Schedule development should be based on the curricular need and vision for the department and university, established enrollment patterns, data provided from Academic Records at the beginning of each scheduling period, and budget projections (including new position requests, adjunct/overload needs, and five-year staffing plans).
Demand for course sections typically includes four factors: nature of the requirement(s) a particular course can fulfill, content of the course (heavily dependent on title), meeting time, and instructor reputation. Balancing the four factors to expand or limit demand frequently makes sense when supply is tight.
Once a course section has students enrolled, meeting times can be altered only in extraordinary circumstances.
Meeting times must include all regular mandatory time commitments a student will incur by enrolling for the course (lecture, laboratory, recitations, studio, exam, significant field trips, etc…).
Course sections that are posted by the beginning of the registration period for a particular term fare best in terms of student enrollment.
Timeline for Schedule Development
Fall and Spring Semesters
Initial notification: early November
Prime responsibility: early December, late January, early March
Completed product: mid-March
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May Experience
Initial notification: early September
Prime responsibility: late September
Completed product: early November
Summer Session
Initial notification: late September
Prime responsibility: early to mid-October
Completed product: early December
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