Standard Meeting Pattern

Approved by the Office of the Provost – November 2017

To minimize class conflicts for students and maximize classroom utilization, all courses must follow the standard meeting patterns listed below unless explicitly approved by the Provost’s Office.

Standard Meeting Patterns – Fall/Spring

 

50 Minutes, 3 Days/Week (MWF)

  • 8:00 – 8:50 AM
  • 8:30 – 9:20 AM
  • 9:30 – 10:20 AM
  • 11:00 – 11:50 AM
  • 12:30 – 1:20 PM
  • 2:00 – 2:50 PM

75 Minutes, 2 Days/Week (MW/TR)

  • 8:00 – 9:15 AM
  • 9:30 – 10:45 AM
  • 11:00 – 12:15 PM
  • 12:30 – 1:45 PM
  • 2:00 – 3:15 PM
  • 3:30 – 4:45 PM
  • 5:30 – 6:45 PM
  • 6:55 – 8:10 PM
  • 8:20 – 9:35 PM

2 Hours 30 Minutes, 1 Day/Week (M/T/W/R/F)

  • 8:00 – 10:30 AM (Friday)
  • 9:30 – 12:00 PM (Friday)
  • 11:00 – 1:30 PM (Friday)
  • 12:30 – 3:00 PM (Friday)
  • 2:00 – 4:30 PM (Monday – Friday)
  • 5:30 – 8:10 PM (Monday – Friday)
  • 6:55 – 9:35 PM (Monday – Friday)

Non-Standard Meeting Patterns

  • Approval from the Provost’s Office is required for non-standard times.
  • Evening schedule variations must be approved and are dependent on computer room availability.
  • Specialized programs may require alternative patterns with Provost’s approval.
  • A class must not cross more than two 75-minute standard times:
    • Allowed: Monday 8:00 – 10:45 AM (crosses 8:00 – 9:15 and 9:30 – 10:45)
    • Not allowed: Monday 9:00 – 11:45 AM (crosses three standard times)
  • Classes meeting once per week must be paired with a class of similar size on the opposite day (unless after 5:00 PM).
    Example: Monday 2:00 – 4:30 should be paired with Wednesday 2:00 – 4:30.
  • Four- or five-day per week classes are allowed if pedagogically necessary.
  • Five-credit hour courses must meet for 250 minutes/week, with a 10–15 minute break included for sessions 2.5+ hours long. They:
    • Must use standard start times
    • May not cross more than two 75-minute time slots
    • Must start after 5:30 PM if meeting 2–3 evenings/week
    • Must start after 2:00 PM if meeting once/week

Level Scheduling Guidelines

Primetime Scheduling

  • Primetime: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Departments may schedule no more than 50% of sections during primetime.
  • If scheduling 10 or fewer sections, no more than 65% may be in primetime.

Balanced Scheduling

  • At least 50% of 1000–2000 level courses must use the MWF pattern.
  • For cross-listed courses, the department of the Primary Instructor takes responsibility.
  • “ARR” patterns are reserved for independent, non-classroom-based courses only.

Classroom Assignments

  • Standard pattern classes are given priority over non-standard ones.
  • Room assignments are based on enrollment caps and room size.
  • Health-related room requests have top priority.
  • Pedagogical requests are considered but not guaranteed.