Classroom Scheduling
Welcome to classroom scheduling where we work to maximize the use of University classroom and laboratory space.
By maximizing space utilization, we increase students’ access to courses they need to graduate on time, and possibly, shorten their time to graduation.
Accounting for all details needed to offer classes to students in any particular term ensures the timely progression for students to meet their educational goal(s).
Maximizing academic space utilization.
Reducing student time to degree completion.
Allocating academic space in an equitable way.
Adapting space assignments during construction phases to minimize displacement and disruption of pedagogical needs.
Classroom scheduling is part of the schedule build process every term for courses that require a meeting space.
Classroom Scheduling Steps
The steps used to assign a course to classroom are determined by the term and course schedule type:
Classroom Scheduling Tools
SZASECT is a Banner interface used to make changes to courses that do not require Chair or Dean approval; changes are immediately visible in Banner.
CBAS, the Course Build Approval System, is the tool by which courses are added and edited by term with changes that require Chair and Dean approval; changes flow through the approval process and, once approved, are processed by the Registrar’s Team and placed into Banner.
Course Term File, CTF: The Course Term File provides details on courses built in Banner and can be used to check accuracy and to look for missing course information in a department or college term schedule. The CTF shows what has been committed to Banner. Courses in the approval process in CBAS, either for course edits or being added as new, will not have been updated in Banner and will not show in the CTF. Changes made to courses via SZSECT will show immediately in Banner and thus on the CTF. Steps to locate the CTF in the Student Common Dashboard are provided in Classroom Scheduling Resources.
25Live serves as the University scheduling system; space for events can be requested and viewed; courses, once committed to Banner, can be viewed.
Glossary
Course: The details reside at the catalog level and include information such as title, level, description, course learning outcomes/performance objectives, pre and co-requisites, type, etc.
Class: A course from the catalog that has been built into a schedule and is available for registration for a particular term. A course may be offered as a class several times a term.
Schedule types: LEC = lecture, LAB = laboratory, SEM = seminar, WEH = Web Based-Hybrid (50-89% Web), WLH = Web Hybrid-Primarily Lecture (<50% web) These schedule types represent the ones requiring a meeting space and are subject to the classroom scheduling process.
Section: Section differentiates more than one instance of the same class offered in the schedule within the same term.
Term: This refers to the academic calendar and/or length of classes offered. A term might be a semester (such as fall and spring) or a summer session. A term may have an 8-week course offering or another period of time less than the full semester or summer session.
Classroom Scheduling Process: Each term follows a schedule build timeline which includes classroom scheduling. Steps include requesting a Large Classroom, Priority/Partition Assignments, Pre-Assignment Requests, and Technology Assisted Scheduling, TAS.
Large Classrooms: Associate Deans begin the classroom scheduling process each season by accepting requests for several of the largest general classrooms on campus (seating 70+ students); Belk Library 114, Belk Hall 119, Howard Street Hall 102 and 103, Greer Auditorium, and Sanford 102 are classrooms available in the request process.
Partition: Classrooms identified as eligible for priority scheduling by an academic department through the Priority/Partition Assignment step in the classroom scheduling process. A list of partitions can be found on the Space Management dashboard.
Priority/Partition Assignments: During the classroom scheduling season, this step in the process provides departments the opportunity to assign their courses to their partition spaces. Assigning classrooms to departmental partition spaces can be done through CBAS for courses requiring Dean Approval for changes or SZASECT prior to the running of TAS.
Pre-Assignment Requests: Courses that require space outside of a department’s partition can be requested for consideration by the Associate Deans in the Pre-Assignment step in the classroom scheduling process. The pedagogical needs of the course must be made for required classroom features such as computer lab set-up, essential equipment, or other specific room features, and presented in the justification. A Pre-Assignment Google form will be provided during each scheduling season.
TAS: Technology Assisted Scheduling, TAS, is used to assist in locating classroom assignments for courses without a space after all other steps of classroom scheduling are completed. 25Live, our University scheduling system, houses an algorithmic tool called the Optimizer which is used to make these classroom placements. Courses will placed into a classroom or be categorized as not placed or impossible to place.
Academic Support Event Type: When students and faculty need access to classrooms outside of scheduled class time, the Event Type, Academic Support, should be selected when reserving the space in 25Live; examples of Academic Support reservations are maker space access, study time for lab practical exams, practice sessions, rehearsals, stage or lab set-up and clean-up, assignment preparation, and co-curricular involvement such as club meetings.