Board of Trustees
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Course Scheduling Policy
| Owner | Academic Affairs |
|---|---|
| Contact | [email protected] |
| Document Type | Policy |
| Issue Date | December 1, 2025 |
| Last Review | December 1, 2025 |
| Related Documents |
Course Scheduling Guidelines, Banner Class Scheduling Instructions |
Contents
Research Misconduct proceedings shall consist of the following phases:
A. Purpose Statement
The purpose of this course scheduling policy is to ensure consistency, transparency, and academic integrity in the scheduling of classes across the institution. It establishes clear guidelines regarding term dates, class meeting times, required breaks, and approval processes for exceptions. By doing so, the policy supports effective academic planning, promotes student success, and ensures compliance with institutional standards.
B. Policy
The scheduling of all courses must adhere to the following requirements.
The dean of the appropriate college must approve exceptions to this policy.
All Academic Semesters Scheduling:
All courses require 750 minutes of instructional time per contact hour. (For example: A 2-contact hour class = 1500 minutes, a 3-contact hour class = 2250 minutes, a 4-contact hour class = 3000 minutes, and a 5-contact hour class = 3750 minutes). Each lecture credit hour should consist of one 50-minute session of classroom instruction per week. For example, a 3-credit hour lecture course should contain 150 minutes of contact (e.g., three 50-minute sessions per week, two 75-minute sessions per week).
Courses taught in other modalities should ensure regular and substantive interaction (RSI) between instructor and student that is equivalent to the amount of required instruction in a lecture course.
Face-to-Face and Hybrid lecture, lab, seminar, studio, and combined lab/lecture courses, must have designated meeting times to meet contact hours. Practicum and independent study are typically arranged by the student and instructor.
Classes will not run later than 10:30 p.m.
When classes are scheduled in blocks of two hours or more, a 10-minute break for each two-hour time block must be included and is already included within the scheduled time.
All classes must be scheduled within the approved term dates for each semester and not be offered across semesters. The approved part of term dates can be found in the Banner Class Scheduling Instructions.
Prior to early registration, all active course sections scheduled must include days and times the classes will meet.
Fall and Spring Semester Start Time and Duration:
Three days per week:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes start on the hour for 50 minutes.
Two days per week:
- Monday and Wednesday classes start at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm or 7:30 pm for 75 minutes.
- Tuesday and Thursday classes start at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm, or 7:30 pm for 75 minutes.
One day per week:
- Held during weekdays, classes start at 8:00 am, 12:00 pm, or 3:00 pm for 150 minutes.
Campus meeting times are on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 a.m. No classes will be scheduled during this time.
Summer Semester Scheduling:
Refer to the Banner Class Scheduling Instructions book for schedule times.
C. Audience
The intended audience for this policy is faculty and staff.
D. Definitions
Course Modalities
- Face-to-Face: Face-to-Face course sections meet all required contact hours via a live, in person format.
- Fully Online – Asynchronous: Fully Online Asynchronous course sections are delivered entirely online and do not include designated real-time class instruction. Regular and substantive interaction is embedded in the course.
- Hybrid: Hybrid course sections are delivered face-to-face with designated meeting times and may include up to 50% online contact hours.
- Fully Online – Synchronous: Fully Online Synchronous course sections are delivered via live online instruction with designated meeting times.
Cross-Listed Sections – Two (or more) separate sections of the same course with different modalities are linked to share a combined seat capacity and instructor.
Part of Term – Courses that are offered for a shorter period during the full academic term.
E. Contacts
For questions regarding this policy, contact the Office of the Provost at [email protected].
F. Related Documents
Banner Class Scheduling Instructions
Registrar Course Scheduling Deadlines
G. History
This policy supersedes policy 2:3.