Complicated classroom coordination

Every day, thousands of students hurry across campus, heading to this classroom or that laboratory. Karen Hanson of the Office of the Registrar reveals the details behind the coordination required to arrange classroom space effectively.

Q: Can you describe the process required to allocate class and lab space?

A: More than 160 academic departments work with the Office of the Registrar-Curricular Services to develop their offering of courses about five to six months prior to the publication of the Schedule of Classes. About two-thirds of the way through this pre-publication period, the academic departments that have requested general assignment classroom space will have their requests processed by the Office of the Registrar-Curricular Services as part of a batch assignment-scheduling algorithm. This algorithm maximizes utilization, while accounting for technological needs and proximity to the department’s home building.

General-assignment classrooms are a pool of classrooms that are available for any academic offering of classes. For the fall 2011 term, there are 360 general-assignment classrooms on campus ranging in size from 15-592, with some classrooms offering technology and seating arrangements ranging from moveable-arm chairs to fixed lecture hall seating. After the batch-assignment process is run, departments can request room changes and continue to add new class sections that will require general assignment-classroom space. This activity will occur through the start of classes for the term, with increased activity during the first few weeks of classes.

Q: How does the changing campus size (new buildings, etc.) impact space allocation?

A: Campus remodeling and new building construction have brought about changes in classroom sizes and locations; however, general-assignment classroom space allocation has remained constant. Remodeling projects impact department requests for space when their preferred building is under construction, and as a result, class sections are assigned space in other buildings. Final-exam room assignments can be challenging due to requirements for adequate spacing between students. Multiple classrooms may need to be assigned to accommodate large exams, and efforts are made to keep the rooms in close proximity to one another.

Q: Are faculty given the opportunity to lobby for particular rooms, or is it based solely on the number of students in a class?

A: We do allow specific room requests when accommodating instructors with disabilities or other special needs, but faculty cannot lobby for particular rooms. To meet demand for rooms especially at prime times (9:30, 9:55, 11 a.m., 1 p.m.), we assign rooms based on department building preferences, class size and technological needs.

Q: Does space management determine how many seats there are available in a class, or do you work with departments to predict how popular a class will be?

A: Departments determine class size requirements.

Q: What is the largest/most popular class on campus? The smallest?

A: This is a difficult question. We can statistically provide enrollment statistics, but class size does not necessarily indicate popularity.

Statistically, the consistently larger courses are African/Folklore 210 (300-400 students in the fall and 200 in the spring), Sociology 134 (400 students in the fall, 200 in the spring), Anthropology 104 (more than 700 students in the fall and 600 in the spring), Psychology 202 (more than 1,000 students per semester), Anatomy 328 (more than 500 students per semester), Music 113 (more than 600 students per semester), Political Science 103 and 104 (more than 400 students each per semester), Biochemistry 501 (500 students in the fall and 400 in the spring), Nutritional Sciences 132 (more than 1,000 students in the fall), Physiology 335 (500 students in the fall and 400 in the spring) and Economics 101 (more than 1,000 students per semester.

There are many smaller classes on campus averaging about 20 students per class. Some classes are designed to be small and limit enrollment.

Q: Do you know how many seats or classrooms there are on campus?

A: For the fall 2011 term, there are 360 general-assignment classrooms scheduled by the Office of the Registrar-Curricular Services, with 22,571 total seats. Additionally, there is classroom and lab space on campus that is scheduled by individual departments.