Whereas the scheduling of classrooms is challenging due to limited class periods, particularly during primetime 10:10

Recommendation from the Faculty Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Review of the Academic Calendar (Hans-Joerg Busch, Chair) to revise the current weekly class schedule and adopt a modified schedule identified as Option A

WHEREAS, the scheduling of classrooms is challenging because of the concentration of classes in the middle of the day, particularly during primetime 10:10 – 2:15 MWF and 9:30 – 1:45 TR, and

WHEREAS, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Academic Calendar has received input from faculty, students, and administrative staff regarding class scheduling options and potential impact on certain Departments and programs, and

WHEREAS, the Committee has deliberated on the various benefits and drawbacks under different class scheduling scenarios, be it therefore,

RESOLVED, that the University of Delaware implement provisionally what is referred to as modified Option A beginning fall 2013 for a three-year period as follows:

Mon/Wed/Fri 50 MIN Tues/Thur 75 MIN

Period 1 0800AM-0850AM 0800AM-0915AM

Period 2 0905AM-0955AM 0930AM-1045AM

Period 3 1010AM-1100AM 1100AM-1215PM

Period 4 1115AM-1205PM 1230PM-0145PM

Period 5 1220PM-0110PM 0200PM-0315PM

Period 6 0125PM-0215PM 0330PM-0445PM

0500PM-0615PM

Mon/Wed 75 MIN Fri after 2:30 used for special events, labs, etc.

Period 7 0230PM-0345PM

Period 8 0400PM-0515PM

Period 9 0530PM-0645PM

or optional by approval of the Department Chair

Mon/Wed/Fri 50 MIN

Period 7 0230PM-0320PM

Period 8 0400PM-0450PM

Period 9 0530PM-0620PM.

AND WHEREAS changes in faculty policy require approval by the Faculty Senate, be it therefore,

RESOLVED, that the following changes be made in the Faculty Handbook (additions and changes indicated by underline; deletions indicated by ~~strikethrough~~):

The Academic Calendar, Class Meetings, Course Scheduling, and Attendance

The University's Academic Calendar in fall and spring semesters will contain a minimum of 68 instructional days followed by a final examination period of 6 days.

Weekly Timetable

The University’s weekly class schedule consists of the following standard meeting patterns:

		Mon/Wed/Fri 50 Min		Tue/Thur 75 Min
Period 1		08:00 a.m. - 08:50 a.m.		08:00 a.m. - 09:15 a.m.
Period 2		09:05 a.m. - 09:55 a.m.	*	09:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Period 3	*	10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	*	11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Period 4	*	11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.	*	12:30 p.m. - 01:45 p.m.
Period 5	*	12:20 p.m. - 01:10 p.m.	*	02:00 p.m. - 03:15 p.m.
Period 6	*	01:25 p.m. - 02:15 p.m.		03:30 p.m. - 04:45 p.m. 05:00 p.m. – 06:15 p.m.
Period 7		Mon/Wed 75 Min 02:30 p.m. - 03:45 p.m.		Fri after 2:30 used for special events
Period 8		04:00 p.m. - 05:15 p.m.
Period 9		05:30 p.m. - 06:45 p.m.
		or optional by approval of the department chair
Period 7		Mon/Wed/Fri 50 Min 02:30 p.m. - 03:20 p.m.
Period 8		04:00 p.m. - 04:50 p.m.
Period 9		05:30 p.m. - 06:20 p.m.

* Peak Times

Evening Courses:
Three- credit lecture courses can start at 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. Three-credit courses meeting one day a week should meet for three hours. Three credit courses meeting two days a week should meet for one and a half hours each day. Courses should end by 10:00 p.m.

Common Examination Scheduling Options:
Wed. 5:30 – 7:30, Thur. 6:30 – 8:30, Fri. 3:00 – 5:00, 5:30 – 7:30, and Sat. 9:00 – 5:00.

Departments are encouraged to follow this weekly schedule as much as possible to insure efficient use of classroom space. Classes scheduled within these parameters will be assigned to classroom space before those that are scheduled ‘off sequence.’

Course Scheduling Guidelines are as Follows:

Due to the limited availability of classrooms at certain times, the following guidelines apply:

Meeting patterns:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday – for 50 minutes classes that meet three times per week
Tuesday/Thursday; Monday/Wednesday afternoon – for 75 minutes classes that meet two times per week

~~1. Of those~~ For three-credit courses taught between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at least 50 percent of each department's courses should be taught on Monday/Wednesday/Friday. No more than 50 percent should be offered on Tuesday/Thursday and Monday/Wednesday afternoon. Courses offered after 5:00 p.m. need not follow in the 50/50 mix.
No more than 55 percent of courses can be scheduled in peak time.
The absolute minimum enrollment for undergraduate courses is ten students and for graduate courses (500 level and above), six students. Courses without minimum enrollment should be canceled prior to the start of classes.
Dual listing will generally be permitted only between 400 and 600 level courses. The two course numbers should be symmetrical (e.g. QU407-QU607). The UDSIS course search will clearly inform students that courses are dual listed.
Fall 2013 forward, all classes must begin at the starting times listed above. Sections not meeting on the standard meeting times will not be included in the first pass when scheduling classrooms with the classroom scheduling software program.
Graduate level courses meeting one day a week must be balanced with another course meeting at the same time period on the approved meeting day. Example – A Monday section meeting from 9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m. must be balanced with a Wednesday and a Friday section meeting from 9:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. There should be a reasonable spread of graduate- level courses scheduled throughout the week.
Discussions or labs using general purpose classrooms cannot schedule three Monday discussions or labs until a Wednesday and a Friday discussion or lab is scheduled. Example – A discussion section offered on Wednesday at 10:10 a.m. must be balanced with a discussion section meeting on Monday and Friday at 10:10 a.m.
Courses being offered for the first time should be scheduled during off-peak times. If the Scheduling Office is having difficulty finding classrooms during the peak times for other courses, courses offered for the first time will be moved to off-peak times.
Selecting times that depart from standard times limits the ability to successfully schedule courses in classrooms and restricts students' flexibility. Scheduling a course at a non-standard time requires the approval of the chair ~~and college dean~~. Such exceptions will be approved only on the grounds of the educational benefit served, subject to the availability of space and not on the basis of convenience.