UIC Class Scheduling Policy Terms and Roles

Terms

Course Management and Academic Space Scheduling – Course Management and Academic Space Scheduling coordinates scheduling with departments three times per year—for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. The office utilizes a “pre-proof” process, which is outlined in the UIC Class Scheduling Procedures page.

Pre-Proof Process – Tentative course schedules are built from previous year’s departmental course offerings. This process is outlined in the UIC Class Scheduling Procedures page.

Department-Designated Classrooms – In a few cases, departments have scheduling priority for common-use rooms that have been designated to those departments.

On-grid scheduling – Standardized start and end times for all UIC classes in all terms including summer. At UIC, the grid is defined as follows:

Three-credit-hour classes. The on-grid scheduling pattern for three-credit classes, which require 2 hours and 30 minutes of class time per week, must be scheduled as follows:

  • Monday, Wednesday, and Friday sections of 50-minute blocks. The first class begins at 8 a.m., and subsequent classes begin every hour on the hour thereafter, with a 10-minute interval between classes. Thus, the first class runs from 8:00-8:50 a.m., the second class runs from 9:00-9:50 a.m., and so on throughout the day and evening.
  • Tuesday and Thursday sections of 75-minute blocks. The first class begins at 8:00 a.m. with subsequent classes beginning every 90 minutes thereafter, with a 15-minute interval between classes. Thus, the first class runs from 8:00-9:15 a.m., the second class runs from 9:30-10:45 a.m., with subsequent classes beginning at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

Four-credit-hour classes. If there is no on-line alternative for some of the necessary class time, four-credit-hour classes that meet in person four days per week must be scheduled Monday through Thursday, 50 minutes per day (see above for 50-minute block policy). This leaves open more Friday times for discussion sections of other courses.

Foreign language classes that meet in person four days per week must be scheduled Monday through Thursday, 50 minutes per day (see above for 50-minute block policy). This leaves open more Friday times for discussion sections of other courses.

Non foreign language courses carrying four credit hours can meet for 50 minutes four days a week or for two days a week for 100 minutes each day. The sections must have beginning times that meet the grid criteria. Monday/Wednesday or variables of Monday/Wednesday and Friday sections must start on the hour. Tuesday/Thursday sections must meet according to the Tuesday/Thursday schedule pattern start times. Tuesday/Thursday sections must begin after 3:30 pm.

Another alternative would be to schedule two 75 minute meeting blocks on Tuesday/Thursday and a third 50 minute meeting block on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. If you choose to use this pattern it is strongly suggested that multiple sections should spread the third 50 minute sections across Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the same time.

Seminars. Some seminars (usually 400-level-and-above courses) meet once a week for 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 15-minute break. Seminars are to be scheduled starting at the following times:

  • TR 3:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. or
  • TR 6:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
  • MW 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. or
  • MW 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Fair distribution –

  • Not more than 60% of each department’s sections may be scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
  • Not more than 60% of each department’s classes may be scheduled using the Tuesday/Thursday pattern.
  • Scheduling priority will be given to on-grid classes and to those departments that spread their classes over the course of the day.

Roles

Role of Department Heads: Submit requests for exceptions to the class scheduling policy to the College Dean.

Role of Deans: Review exceptions to the class scheduling policy as submitted by department heads. Forwards approved exceptions to the Vice Provost for Academic and Enrollment Services for implementation.

Role of Vice Provost for Academic and Enrollment Services: Implements reasonable exceptions to the Class Scheduling Policy (i.e., those forwarded to Course Management and Academic Space Scheduling).

Role of Course Management and Academic Space Scheduling: Schedule classes per the pre-proof procedure, accommodate changes and additions to classrooms as articulated in the Class Scheduling Procedure page, resolve conflicts for room and time requests.