Ohio University

University announces class meeting times for semesters

Apr 25, 2011
From staff reports

Athens campus students, faculty and staff can begin to envision what a semester schedule will look like following the announcement of the standard class meeting patterns.

The Quarters to Semesters Steering Committee recommended the schedule following review and consideration of several factors, including the practices of other institutions and discussion regarding potential impact to student activity and enrollment. Other considerations that influenced the decision were the need to optimize classroom utilization and student scheduling.  The committee’s recommendation received the endorsement of the deans and has been approved by Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit.

Beginning in fall quarter 2012, the daytime schedule will begin at 7:30 a.m. and run until 5:05 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (MWF) and until 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday (TTh).  Classes scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. or later may follow any meeting pattern, except for those held in large classrooms.  The daytime schedule applies only to the Athens campus; a schedule for regional campuses modeled on the Athens schedule is currently being developed.

Based on past practice, it is anticipated that the 7:30 a.m. time slot will be used minimally, but it is necessary to include it in the scheduling grid as a way of building in flexibility and ensuring the best use of classroom space. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. provides 15 standard time blocks – nine on MWF and six on TTh.

Beginning later in the day, for example at 8 a.m., and maintaining the same number of time blocks extends classes into early evening hours (last MWF daytime class would run 4:40-5:35 p.m.), and therefore is likely to result in both the first and final time slots on those days being minimally used.  This could potentially cause difficulty in scheduling classrooms to accommodate the required number of sections and seats, especially in large spaces. It also would reduce students’ flexibility to schedule other activities.

Highlights of the Class Meeting Times Schedule

• Classes will begin at standard starting times
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes between 7:30 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. will be 55 minutes
• Tuesday and Thursday classes between 7:30 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. will be 80 minutes
• Labs and other special types of instruction not scheduled in classrooms may meet longer
• Classes after 3:05 may be 55, 80, or 110 minutes or longer, but will begin at a standard starting time
• Beginning at 5:15 p.m. classes may follow any meeting pattern, unless they are scheduled in a large classroom
• Details are shown on the Semester Class Meeting Times sheet