Class Scheduling: Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities

Each campus is responsible for establishing a standard class schedule and class period in order to maximize classroom utilization and student access to courses. These standards apply to courses that are scheduled during an academic term. Academic terms are defined by the academic calendars set for each campus.

A. Standards for Class Schedules

1. Each campus of the University must adopt a standard class schedule with an appropriate change period between classes. Start times and/or class periods that vary from the standard schedule are subject to campus procedures for approval of such variances.
2. Departments are to schedule classes so that classroom space is used to the maximum extent practicable while ensuring that students have reasonable access to register for classes needed for timely degree progress.
3. All classes that normally permit undergraduates to enroll will not be held on official University holidays or University Study Days.
4. Class schedules, and information on non-conforming classes, will be reviewed as needed by the Senate Committee on Educational Policy by the office on the campus responsible for class scheduling.
5. Undergraduate classes will meet during the regular academic session.

B. Crookston Campus Standard Schedule and Class Periods

1. Monday - Friday Standard Class Periods     
   There are two standard class periods, described below and set out in the Appendix chart:
   • No classes will be scheduled on Thursdays between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
   • Lecture classes
     1. All daytime lecture classes will begin on the hour, with the exception of Four-Credit Class Option B (7:40 a.m.).  
     2. Evening classes may begin at 5:00 p.m. or later and are not restricted by days of the week or time blocks.  
   • Exceptions to these rules may be proposed to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for approval.
   • One-credit classes
     1. Meet for 50 minutes any one day per week, beginning on the hour, at any hour (except no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Th).  
     2. Note: One-credit classes meeting twice a week follow the rules for two-credit classes. One-credit classes meeting three times a week follow the rules for three-credit classes.  
   • Two-credit classes
     1. Meet for 50 minutes on M and W, or W and F, or M and F, beginning on the hour, at any hour.
     2. Meet for 50 minutes T and Th, beginning on the hour, at any hour (except between 12:00 p.m.  and 2:00 p.m. on Th).
   • Meet for 100 minutes on T or Th, beginning at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. (on T only; no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm on Th), 2:00 p.m., or 4:00 p.m. Lecture classes
   • Three-credit classes
     1. Meet for 50 minutes on M, W, F beginning on the hour at any hour.   
     2. Meet for 75 minutes on T and Th beginning at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., or 4:00 p.m (except no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm on Th).  
   • Four-credit classes
     1. Meet for 50 minutes on M, F, and two other days, beginning on the hour, at any hour (except no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm on Th).
     2. Meet for 70 minutes on M, W, F, 7:40 a.m. to 8:50 a.m., or beginning at 3:00 p.m. or later.
   • Meet for 100 minutes on T and Th, beginning at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., or 4:00 p.m. (except no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm on Th).
   • Five-credit classes
     1. Meet for 50 minutes any one day per week, beginning on the hour, at any hour (except no classes between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00pm on Th).
   • Laboratory classes
     1. Laboratory classes will be scheduled in consultation with Department Heads and the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.   
     2. Laboratory classes will follow start times as outlined above for M, W, F or T and Th.  
   • Standard Class Meeting Times Chart (see the appendix: Standard Class Meeting Time Charts for Class Scheduling (DOCX))

C. Morris Campus Standard Schedule and Class Periods

1. No classes will be scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m.
2. Monday - Friday Standard Class Periods     
   There are two standard class periods, described below and set out in the Appendix chart:
   • The standard MWF class is 65 minutes, with a 10-minute change period between classes.
   • The standard TTh class is 100 minutes, with a 10-minute change period between classes.
   • Standard Class Meeting Times Chart (see the appendix: Standard Class Meeting Time Charts for Class Scheduling)

D. Rochester Campus Standard Schedule and Class Periods

1. Monday - Friday Standard Class Periods     
   There are two standard class periods, described below and set out in the Appendix chart:
   • The standard "A" class is 50 minutes, with a 15-minute change period between classes, with the exception of a 30-minute change period between 12:05-12:35. The first class of the day starts at 08:00. Classes meeting for two or more consecutive periods (such as labs) will start according to this schedule.
   • The standard "B" class is 75 minutes, with a 15-minute change period between classes, with the exception of a 30-minute change period between 12:15-12:45 and between 2:00-2:30. The first class of the day starts at 08:00. Classes meeting for two or more consecutive periods (such as labs) will start according to this schedule. Such classes are scheduled on the following pairs of days: Mon-Wed, Mon-Fri, Wed-Fri, Tues-Thurs.
   • Standard Class Meeting Times Chart (see the appendix: Standard Class Meeting Time Charts for Class Scheduling)
2. Classes designed exclusively for graduate and/or post-baccalaureate professional students are exempt from the scheduling requirements in this policy. Such classes should be scheduled so that students have reasonable access to courses inside and outside the department.
3. Distribution of meeting times    
   Classes will be distributed evenly throughout the day when such distributions do not negatively impact student options or cohort offerings.
4. Distribution of enrollments    
   Enrollments will be distributed throughout the day (i.e., across class hours) and throughout the week (i.e., day patterns) when such distributions do not negatively impact student options or cohort offerings.
5. Classes scheduled during non-standard times must be approved by the ADAP and Registrar; in case of a disagreement, final authority to grant a variance rests with the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Innovation.

6. Standard Scheduling Rules for Classes Carrying 1-5 Credits.

   The following rules do not apply to the length of labs, film classes, performing arts classes, or specialized class components, but such classes must begin according to the schedule in Section 1.    
   
   Neither these rules nor those in Section 1 apply to courses administered online or directed study, directed readings, or directed research courses, but these courses must comply with Administrative Policy: Expected Time per Course Credit: Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities.

   • One-credit classes
     1. Meet for one standard hour per week, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, and meet for one class period.
     2. Meet twice per week, and follow the rules for two-credit classes; or
     3. Meet three times per week, and follow the rules for three-credit classes.
   • Two-credit classes
     1. Meet twice per week, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, and meet for one class period, or
     2. Meet once per week, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, and last two class periods.
   • Three-credit classes
     1. Meet three times per week on MWF, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, and meet for one class period; or
     2. Meet twice per week, use the standard "B" class meeting times, and meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays only; or
     3. Meet twice per week, use the "C" class meeting times, and meet on MW, WF, MF only; or
     4. Meet once per week, use the standard "A" start time, and meet on F.
   • Four-credit classes
     1. Meet four times per week, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, or
     2. Meet twice per week for two hours, begin at a standard "A" time, and last two class periods; or
   • For lecture/laboratory or lecture/discussion courses with three hours of lecture time, the lecture component follows the schedule for three-credit courses and the discussion component follows the schedule for one-credit classes.
   • Five-credit classes
     1. Meet five times per week, begin at a standard "A" class meeting time, meet for one class period, and meet MTWThF.
   • For lecture/laboratory or lecture/discussion courses with three hours of lecture time, the lecture component follows the schedule for three-credit courses. For lecture/laboratory or lecture/discussion courses with four hours of lecture time, the lecture component follows the schedule for four-credit courses and the discussion component follows the corresponding one- or two-credit schedule.
7. Summer Term (May session plus first and second summer session).    
   Classes may meet during the May session, first or second summer session, or may extend across two or all three sessions. Class period duration in the May and summer sessions is at the discretion of the department offering the class. The first class hour will begin at 08:00.

E. Twin Cities Campus Standard Schedule and Class Periods

1. Monday - Friday Standard Class Periods

   There are two standard class periods, described below and set out in the Appendix chart:

   • The standard "A" class is 50 minutes, with a 15-minute change period between classes. Classes meeting for two or more periods (such as labs), must start and end according to this schedule.
   • The standard "B" class is 75 minutes, with a 15-minute change period between classes. Such classes will only be scheduled:
     1. Tuesday/Thursday,
     2. Monday/Wednesday,
     3. Wednesday/Friday, or
     4. Monday/Friday.
   • Standard Class Meeting Times Chart (see the appendix: Standard Class Meeting Time Charts for Class Scheduling (DOCX))
2. Classes designed exclusively for graduate and/or post-baccalaureate professional students on the Twin Cities campus are exempt from the scheduling requirements in this policy, if held in a room under the control of the department. Departments should schedule classes so that eligible students have reasonable access to register for classes needed for timely degree progress
   • Classes taught through Academic Health Center (AHC) Schools and Colleges using AHC classrooms may be scheduled at non-standard times on the the Twin Cities campus.
3. Distribution Requirements
   • The requirements are enforced at the collegiate level. Colleges will work with the Office of Classroom Management to ensure fair-use scheduling.
   • Meeting times    
     Colleges must distribute classes evenly throughout the day, with no more than 3% of class demand scheduled in any one standard time block.
   • Meeting patterns    
     Colleges are permitted to schedule a maximum of 50% of their classes using a Tuesday/Thursday meeting pattern, with the remaining classes using a combination of Monday/Wednesday/Friday meeting patterns.
   • Enrollments    
     Colleges must distribute enrollments throughout the day (i.e., across class hours) and throughout the week (i.e., day patterns).

   • Distribution calculations

     Distributions are calculated and available through a report noted in the Responsibilities section of this policy. Calculations are made by summing the number of minutes for each meeting pattern occurring in a standard "A" class meeting time on each weekday, Monday through Friday.

     Colleges are permitted to schedule up to 3% of departmental classes during any individual time period (e.g., period VII on Thursday or period II on Monday) on any given weekday.

4. Classes requesting to meet during non-standard times, must be approved by the college associate dean and the Office of Classroom Management and may be required to meet in departmental space. In case of a disagreement, final authority to grant a variance rests with the Executive Vice President and Provost's office.

5. Standard Scheduling Rules for Classes Carrying 1-5 Credits.

   The following rules do not apply to the length of labs, performing arts classes, specialized class components, or Summer Semester but such classes must begin according to the Section 1 schedule.

   Neither these rules nor those in Section 1 apply to classes without a meeting pattern, to include  online, directed study, directed readings, or directed research courses, but these classes must comply with related Administrative Policy: Expected Time per Course Credit: Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities.

Summer Term

Class period duration in the May and summer sessions is at the discretion of the department offering the class, in consultation with the Office of Classroom Management. The first class hour will begin at 08:00 in Minneapolis and at 08:30 in St. Paul.