Class Scheduling Goal
The goal of the class schedule is to meet the needs of James Madison University students and faculty by making efficient and effective use of classroom space and instructional hours.
Objectives
- Ease student scheduling by maintaining standardized class meeting times that minimize time conflicts.
- Optimize classroom usage throughout the instructional day and week including more class meetings on Fridays.
- Distribute space utilization across the days of the week and weeks of the semester.
- Meet SCHEV space utilization guidelines.
Standard Meeting Times
|
MWF |
MW, WF, MF |
TT |
|
8:00a-8:50a |
8:00a-9:15a |
8:00a-9:15a |
|
9:10a-10:00a |
9:35a-10:50a |
9:35a-10:50a |
|
10:20a-11:10a |
11:10a-12:25p |
|
|
11:30a-12:20p |
12:45p-2:00p |
|
|
12:40p-1:30p |
2:20p-3:35p |
|
|
1:50p-2:40p |
3:55p-5:10p |
|
|
3:00p-3:50p |
1:50p-3:05p |
5:30p-6:45p |
|
4:10p-5:00p |
3:25p-4:40p |
7:05p-8:20p |
|
5:20p-6:10p |
5:00p-6:15p |
|
|
6:30p-7:20p |
6:35p-7:50p |
Meeting Patterns
- MWF: 50 minute classes that meet three times per week.
- TT, MW, WF, MF: 75 minute or 50 minute classes that meet two times per week.
Prime Time
- MWF 10:20 am – 2:40 pm
- TT: 9:35 am – 2:00 pm
Guiding Principles
The Office of the Registrar will review the schedule of classes for conformity to the following guiding principles each semester. Nonconformity will be reported to the college dean/associate dean and the Office of the Provost.
- All classes, regardless of length, must begin OR end at official standard class meeting times listed for the meeting pattern of the class.
- All classes with start times from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm on MWF and from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm on TT must adhere to the standard schedule. Upon request, flexibility may be given after 2:40 pm to units which have already achieved utilization objectives (see above).
- Academic units may schedule up to 50% of their classes during prime time (MWF 10:20 am-2:40 pm; TT 9:35 am-2:00 pm).
- Academic units may schedule up to 50% of all classes on a TT meeting pattern.
- Any course offering with only one weekly meeting which lasts longer than a standard time must be scheduled outside of prime time.
- Once-per-week classes that start prior to 3:25 pm must be paired according to one of the two-day per week patterns (MW, WF, MF, TT). For example, a TU class starting at 9:35 am must be balanced by another TH class starting at the same time in the same room.
- 100 and 200 level seven-week block courses must conform to scheduling guidelines.
- 100 and 200 level seven-week block courses must be balanced between block 1 and block 2.
- Classes meeting during the summer term are not required to adhere to these scheduling guidelines.
Exceptions
All classes are expected to conform to the guidelines above. Requests for exceptions are subject to the approval of the Schedule Management Group with final approval of the Office of the Provost.
Variations in the application of these guidelines may be arranged for units with specific and persistent scheduling issues due to student learning needs or on behalf of enhanced space utilization. Persistent practices of that type, once approved as variations within colleges or academic units, will be acknowledged in subsequent versions of the policy.
Questions should be directed to the person listed for your college.
College of Arts and Letters: Siân White
College of Business: Cheryl Mast
College of Education: Dani Bronaugh
College of Health and Behavioral Studies: Kevin Apple
College of Integrated Science and Engineering: Jeff Tang
College of Science and Mathematics: Steve Whitmeyer
College of Visual and Performing Arts: Wren Stevens
General Education: Kethera Fogler Moore
