The goal of this policy is to distribute
class offerings more evenly throughout the day. By avoiding the overloading of
classes at popular times for fall and spring semesters, students will be
allowed more flexibility in their course scheduling. This will also leave
classroom space available for emergency or overflow situations during peak
hours.
Scope
This policy affects only those classes that are taught in regular on-campus
university classrooms. It does not affect classes taught in
department-controlled labs or conference rooms.
"Department" Defined
For the purpose of this policy, a department is defined as an academic unit
which has a department head who reports to an academic dean, and is usually
identified by the first four digits of its department code.
Prime-Time Classes
For this policy, we will consider the following times as "prime
times" for MWF: 9:05, 10:10, 11:15, 12:20, and 1:25, for TTH: 9:30, 11:00,
12:30, and 2:00. Furthermore, if a class spans across two or more of these time
patterns, it must be counted once for each time pattern it occupies. For
example, FR 101 (4 credits) meets 9:05MWF and 9:30T. This is, in effect, using
two "prime time" slots and will be counted twice.
Exception: If
the language department also scheduled another class into the open 9:30TH time
slot in that room, e.g., GER 101 at 10:10MWF and 9:30TH, it would only be
counted once because the 9:30TTH time slot has already been counted. These two
classes would then be counted as 3 prime time slots (9:05MWF, 10:10MWF, and
9:30TTH), not 4.
View all standard meeting times..
Class
For this policy a class is defined as one section of a course. Classes with a
lab may be counted twice if both the lecture and the lab are covered by the
scope of the policy. One department should count different classes meeting at
the same time and in the same room only once. This includes cross-listed
courses, and 400/600 level pairs. The parent department counts cross-listed
courses only.
Compliance
Each department must schedule their courses such that they are in compliance.
Departments (or college) not in compliance are required to adjust course
offerings. Registration Services performs regular analysis of room compliance.
Justification
The 60% figure is derived in the following way. There are a total of 19 time
slots available throughout the week, with 9 defined as "prime time."
A "perfect" distribution between prime time and non-prime time is
about 47%.
The 5% limit is derived from actual class offerings in the spring of 2005. With
roughly 2335 classes offered, the "perfect" distribution is 123
classes (5.27%) in a time pattern. The total number of rooms available in a
time pattern is 184 (7.88% of spring 2005 classes.) Even with departments
rounding up their class offerings, the number of classes in a time slot should
not exceed 184 classes. This will leave some rooms open for emergencies and
will help ensure that a class can get the size room that it needs.
Because this
policy is based on the "perfect" distribution of classes, it will
hold as Clemson grows towards the current maximum of 3496 classes (184
classrooms times 19 time slots). This policy may need to be reviewed if there
is a significant change in the number of university classrooms available on
campus.
Formulas
To calculate the total number of classes a large department may offer in a
prime-time slot.
Total classes offered multiplied by .07 = Number of classes in a time slot. If
this number is not a whole number, it may be rounded to the next higher whole
number.
To calculate the total number of classes a department may offer in prime time.
Total classes offered multiplied by .60 = Number of classes that may fall in prime
time. If this number is not a whole number, it may be rounded to the next
higher whole number.
Questions regarding the Classroom Distribution Policy should be directed to Reagan Blondeau, 864.656.2431.
