2008 Woodie Awards
Class schedule to change fall 2009
University Senate hopes to alleviate time conflicts, overlapping classes
Catherine Couretas
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Campus
Scheduling classes might soon be easier for Miami University students, as a new model for class times will be put into effect in the fall of 2009, hopefully allowing for fewer scheduling conflicts and overlapping classes.
"This is something we've been working on for over a year to create more curricular balance," University Registrar David Sauter said at the University Senate meeting Monday.
The new model is still in the works, but it tentatively keeps the same 8 a.m. start time and allows for 15-minute breaks between all classes everyday.
"We started with the current block (schedule) and put some future ideals in there," Sauter said. "We've heard from every part of the university to build in more travel time."
The model also allows for less time conflicts and fewer chances of overlapping classes, since there will be
common start times Monday through Friday and classes will have varying time lengths.
"We need a three-credit hour base, but we still need to be able to accommodate four- and five-credit hour classes, such as math and science classes," Sauter said.
However, the traditional three-credit hour base will still remain.
"Ninety percent of classes here are one-, two- or three-credit hours, science classes too, and that's what reminded us that we can stick with a three-credit hour base," Sauter said.
Sauter said that some conflicts can't be avoided. He pointed out that there are labs and studio classes offered in two and three hour blocks, and that some classes, such as MTH 151, offer so many different sections that overlap between these and other classes may not be completely avoided.
"We may just have to schedule Math 151 on every hour Monday through Friday," Sauter said. "We know that things like labs are going to overlap something. Wright State University starts some labs before 8 a.m. to use those extra minutes, so that's a possibility."
The current time block model during the day includes six time blocks on Tuesday and Thursday and nine on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
"This is something we've been working on for over a year to create more curricular balance," University Registrar David Sauter said at the University Senate meeting Monday.
The new model is still in the works, but it tentatively keeps the same 8 a.m. start time and allows for 15-minute breaks between all classes everyday.
"We started with the current block (schedule) and put some future ideals in there," Sauter said. "We've heard from every part of the university to build in more travel time."
The model also allows for less time conflicts and fewer chances of overlapping classes, since there will be
common start times Monday through Friday and classes will have varying time lengths.
"We need a three-credit hour base, but we still need to be able to accommodate four- and five-credit hour classes, such as math and science classes," Sauter said.
However, the traditional three-credit hour base will still remain.
"Ninety percent of classes here are one-, two- or three-credit hours, science classes too, and that's what reminded us that we can stick with a three-credit hour base," Sauter said.
Sauter said that some conflicts can't be avoided. He pointed out that there are labs and studio classes offered in two and three hour blocks, and that some classes, such as MTH 151, offer so many different sections that overlap between these and other classes may not be completely avoided.
"We may just have to schedule Math 151 on every hour Monday through Friday," Sauter said. "We know that things like labs are going to overlap something. Wright State University starts some labs before 8 a.m. to use those extra minutes, so that's a possibility."
The current time block model during the day includes six time blocks on Tuesday and Thursday and nine on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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