Rules Governing Course Scheduling

Departments shall offer graduate and undergraduate courses only in defined blocks, and in approved variations that have been designed to accommodate seminar, laboratory and studio formats.

Departments shall offer graduate and undergraduate courses only in defined blocks, and in approved variations that have been designed to accommodate seminar, laboratory and studio formats.

Normally, classes meet twice a week for 90 minutes each, or three times a week for 60 minutes each. Requests for exceptions require the permission of the university registrar. Please provide a memo outlining your request and a detailed explanation of why an out-of-block assignment is being requested. The university registrar will review these requests and may consult with the dean of arts and sciences. Please refer to the Class Scheduling Chart for approved teaching blocks.

To optimize student choice and to optimize our use of classroom resources, each department must distribute their courses evenly across the defined scheduling blocks. In the event that courses are unevenly distributed, you may be asked to redistribute them in an even manner.

Classroom space for discussion sections and recitations are subject to availability unless they are listed in the Schedule of Classes. Mandatory recitations must be published in the schedule of classes prior to registration.

The scheduling of optional recitations and discussion sections will be confirmed by the end of the add/drop period.

Final authority for the scheduling of classes resides with the University Registrar. Any changes in scheduling due to the addition or creation of new courses, or the addition and/or loss of faculty are subject to the approval of the university registrar. Every effort will be made to accommodate departmental requests, consistent with overall scheduling priorities. Departmental requests may be denied for failure to comply with the scheduling guidelines above and when technical compliance generates an uneven distribution among blocks when considered in the context of other departments' requests.

Changes to a block assignment are not allowed after students are enrolled.