Academic & Event Scheduling

The Scheduling Division maintains primary responsibility for scheduling University facilities including auditoriums, classrooms, plazas and other outdoor areas, along with publishing the online class schedule.

Taking a Data Informed Approach to Class Scheduling

Often overlooked as an important part of moving the needle on enrollment and completion, the structure of the class schedule is one of the key pillars of student success and degree progression. 

As an institution, we have a responsibility and stewardship over the sections offered each term to eliminate barriers and create optimal schedules for student progress towards completion.

Although classes roll from like term (Fall to Fall) to assist with the tremendous amount of work required in building a schedule, offerings should be carefully assessed during the planning period to account for any emerging student and department needs.

Several tools are available to view class demand and enrollment.

As Department Schedulers, Department Chairs, and Associate Deans work together to assess the scheduling needs of departments, the following principles and questions should be considered:

Program/Pathways

Using Program/Pathways to identify needed courses to be offered each term.

• Are first year students able to obtain seats in pre-requisite or gateway courses?
• Can continuing students register for sections they need to progress?
• Are pre-requisites regularly reviewed and adjustments made as necessary to allow eliminate barriers to course access?

Standard Time Blocks

The Standard Time Blocks grid should be used to spread offerings for course access.

• Are courses only offered in prime-time such that conflicts exist when students are selecting courses (utilizing too many premium schedule slots?)
• Is there sufficient spread in your schedule so students have multiple paths to course completion?

Monitoring Enrollments

Monitoring enrollments during the registration period, both at the course and program level?

• Do you have a plan to adjust capacities on courses as appropriate, or offer additional sections?
• Can resources be moved from low enrollment courses to gateway courses?
• Identifying actual demand.

Space Utilization Standards

Following Space Utilization Standards as prescribed by the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE):

Gathering Data about Student Needs

Are courses offered in the modality, day/time needed?

How can the class schedule help students in your major progress towards degree completion?

Are there inherent roadblocks that have been created by courses that are oversubscribed (always full)?

Partnership

The Office of the Registrar is proud to partner with the Office of the Provost to enhance student success through strategic course scheduling and space utilization, including the implementation of Time Distribution Metric Requirements, and with Undergraduate Studies in promoting Navigate U principles.