SCHEDULING GRID REVIEW AND REVISION DISCUSSION SESSION - PowerPoint Presentation

1. SCHEDULING GRID REVIEW AND REVISION DISCUSSION SESSION

2. WHAT IS THE SCHEDULING GRID?Used to schedule classes according to fixed patternsRegular patterns help with room usage and ease of student course schedulingBuilt into our scheduling software (IMS, CSS, and Infosilem)

3. ORIGINAL SCHEDULING GRID (Pre-Fall 2017)Built exclusively around 3-credit courses – all others were created ad hoc (4 credit, 2 credit, 1 credit, labs, studios). Courses met MWF morning, MW afternoon, or TuTh. No other combinations.Friday afternoon was used only for labs and studios.Ten minutes between classes.Free Period similar each day.

4. OLD SCHEDULING GRID BASICALLY WORKEDPatterns were known by departmentsDemand for space was relatively low (enrollments were lower)Demand for Specialized Space was relatively low (labs, computer rooms, studios)Very few courses deviated from standard patternsVery few non-3 credit courses

5. PROBLEMS WITH OLD SCHEDULING GRIDAs enrollments increased, demand for space, especially larger classrooms, increasedDemand for specialized spaces increased, especially computer rooms, science labsWith new school units and programs, more courses deviated from standard patternsMore non-3 credit coursesCampus physically grew (10 minutes between classes not enough)

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8. FALL 2017 SCHEDULING GRIDTries to solve some of these problems:Increased space between classes from 10 minutes to 15 minutesCreated MW, MF, WF, TuTh, and one day a week schedulesChanged structure so that Free Period different on MWF and TuThAllowed for scheduling regular classes on Friday afternoons

9. PROBLEMS WITH FALL 2017 SCHEDULING GRIDWas not originally built to accommodate 4 credit, 2 credit, lab, or studio courses. These were added to it as needed afterwardsCreated some confusion over Free Period times (faculty, staff, students)Implemented without much input from faculty and studentsHas overlapping structures that create more scheduling and room tensionsStill does not accommodate all desired structures.

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14. SCHEDULING PARAMETERS TO CONSIDERHomogenous Structure for each dayIntervals between classesBorders between grid blocksClass lengths/number of days per weekMultiple structures for different numbers of creditsWeekend schedules

15. HOMOGENOUS STRUCTURE FOR EACH DAYSchedule should be the same for each day of the week (potentially including Sa Su).Makes scheduling easier and more consistentEasier to remember day to dayAllows additional day combinations (MTh, for example)

16. INTERVALS BETWEEN CLASSESWalking time between longest building separations is 15 minutes (BSB to CNS, ATG to Whitman). Shuttle time (if perfect load and exit) is 9 minutesInterval time also needs to allow for bathroom breaks, chances to get drink, get to car/office to exchange materials, etc.

17. BORDERS BETWEEN GRIDSBorders between grids should line up as much as possible to avoid conflicts. The more overlapping structures, the more difficult it becomes to schedule student courses and roomsLining up border grids results in longer gaps between classes to accommodate different credit/number of days in week structuresLonger gaps result in fewer options for times

18. CLASS LENGTH/NUMBER DAYS PER WEEK3 Days per week is 55 minutes per day for 3 credit class (165 total minutes)2 Days per week is 80 minutes per day for 3 credit class (160 total minutes)1 Day per week is 160 minutes per day for 3 credit class (160 total minutes)Do we want to still include 3-day a week classes?One credit and recitations still would require a structure built for 55 minutes a day.

19. CREDITS AND ALTERNATE STRUCTURESMust create schedules for 1, 2, 3, and 4 credit classes (each for potentially 1, 2, or 3 days a week)Must create “one hour” patterns for recitationsMust create “three hour” patterns for labs and studiosMust create options for hybrid patterns that will meet subsets of other patternsOther options for specialized schedules (graduate, professional, etc.)

20. WEEKENDDo we want to build structured Saturday or Sunday schedules? Should Saturday/Sunday schedules mirror M-F schedules (homogenous 7-day schedule)?If offering Saturday/Sunday classes, could use same structure as 2-day/week in the M-F gridIs there a large anticipated demand for weekend courses?

21. FIRST PASS STAB AT REVISED SCHEDULING GRIDWHAT IT SOLVES:Homogenous 7-days a weekFree period same each dayAllows for 1,2,3,4 credit courses in patterns of 1,2,3 days per weekMinimizes as possible overlapping structuresMorning, afternoon, and evening have similar structures15 minutes between classes, and before start and end of free periodPOTENTIAL PROBLEMS:Reduces daytime 2-day/week structures from 5 to 4 (lose one 2-day/week period)Only three 1-day/week (or lab/studio) structures, rather than current five (though current ones overlap)Creates large gaps between morning and afternoon for 2-day/week (morning ends 11:30am, afternoon starts 2:10pm)

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25. TRADE-OFFSReducing gaps between classes gives more block optionsReducing free period (or including gaps around free period as part of the period) gives more block optionsStarting earlier (7am, 7:30am, etc.) gives more block optionsGreater flexibility in scheduling vs. reducing resource availability/student conflicts (more overlapping times)

26. SILOINGA “Silo” is a unit or group of students that do not overlap or otherwise interact with any other group, including shared resources.Right now, only “silo” on campus is the Law School, whose students pretty much exclusively take Law School courses, and who use only exclusively Law School rooms.Otherwise:Business UG – students take A&S classes, and spaces are utilized by Business, A&S, and NursingBusiness MBA – student coursework is mostly internal (some overlap with MPA and others), but spaces are utilized by Business, A&S, and NursingNursing UG – students take A&S classes, spaces are utilized by Nursing, A&S, Business, and LawNursing Grad – student coursework internal – spaces overlap UG Nursing, A&S, and LawMSW – student coursework internal – spaces overlap into A&S and BusinessA&S UG – overlaps everywhereGrad School – student coursework mostly internal – spaces overlap into UG A&S, Business, and Nursing.

27. HOW TO PROCEED:Structural Decisions – Do we want 3-days per week classes? (pedagogical reasons to keep?)Do we want alternative day patterns (MTh, WTh, MTu, TuF, etc.)? (additional patterns may create more conflicts, impossible final exam schedules)Which is more important – longer gaps between classes, or more scheduling grid options? Shorter gaps means that programs/majors that utilize distant buildings would need to mindful of scheduling courses back to back (Nursing, Biology, Digital Design, etc.)Which is more important – more scheduling options, or less overlapping schedules?(More overlaps would mean greater stress on high demand resources)

28. HOW TO PROCEED:What is missing from the current schedule (what class structures do you want that do not exist; is there a overlapping issue or other reason why those structures do not exist)?Where have you been having problems in scheduling classes:Students cannot make schedules because too many overlaps (need to reduce number of overlaps in schedule – loss of flexibility)Students cannot make schedules because work/personal conflicts with courses (more flexibility in scheduling – pressure on resources)Cannot get the resources you need such as large rooms, labs, computer rooms, etc. (too many overlapping schedules, need more time slots)Not enough time slots for the number of sections you need to create? (need more time slots, reduce gaps between classes)Need specific times that do not exist on the schedule for specialized programs? (more flexibility in scheduling - pressure on resources)

29. SURVEY TO FOLLOW.QUESTIONS