Classroom Policies

Room Assignment Policies

• Classrooms will be assigned based on class size (with priority given to larger classes), room features, and proximity to department offices.
• Classes offered for credit take precedence over all non-class-related or non-credit events.

Departmentally Controlled Classrooms

Departments that control classrooms or seminar rooms are expected to adhere to the time zones and to fully use those rooms before requesting a General Purpose Classroom.

Accommodations for Disabled Students

When an assigned classroom is determined to be inadequate for a disabled student or instructor, Disability Access Services will ask Scheduling to reassign the class to a suitable classroom.

Changes in Classroom Assignments

• Any requests to change a classroom assignment must be made through the department’s scheduling coordinator. The coordinator will submit the request to Scheduling via the web form or email. Instructors may not move their class from an assigned room without prior approval from Scheduling.
• In case of an emergency evacuation of a classroom or building, the department should ask Scheduling to relocate classes.
  

Room Size and Configuration

• Seating capacity is specified in accordance with state and city safety regulations. If it appears that student demand will surpass the scheduled room, departments should contact Scheduling for alternate space. Over-crowding violates safety codes. It is unacceptable for students not to have appropriate seating.
• Furniture and equipment such as overheads, chairs, and tables must not be removed from any classroom. If a room does not contain adequate facilities to meet the scheduled maximum enrollment or equipment needs, the instructor should contact the department scheduling coordinator for assistance. The coordinator will work with Scheduling to resolve the problem.
• Departments should assess anticipated enrollment, and base any adjustments on actual course enrollment during the previous corresponding term; enrollment increases should not exceed 15 percent of the previous corresponding term. Departments projecting an increase greater than 15 percent must provide written justification to the Associate Registrar.

Appropriate Use of Facilities

• Food service is not permitted in academic classrooms.
• Some events may be denied use of classroom space if the event is inappropriate for the purpose of the classroom.
• The possession, consumption, or furnishing of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances is prohibited in all classrooms.

Classroom Maintenance

• Media Services, 7-2121, maintains and repairs all audio/video technology in a classroom. For immediate assistance, pickup up the help phone in the classroom for direct connection to the Media Services classroom help desk.
• Facilities Services Work Coordination Center, 7-2969, handles classroom cleanliness, damage, lighting, seating, requests for lecterns, podiums or additional tables or chalk.

Zone Requirements

OSU Zones for Classes Needing Rooms

Percentages indicate maximum number of classes a department may schedule in each zone.

Scheduling Zone	%	Time
Zone 1	20%	0800–0950
Zone 2	20%	1000–1150
Zone 3	20%	1200–1350
Zone 4	20%	1400–1550
Zone 5	20%	1600+

This class and classroom scheduling protocol helps students get the courses they need to graduate by reducing scheduling conflicts. For faculty, it optimizes access to instructional technology and facilities. The protocol applies to all classes scheduled in general purpose and departmental classroom space.

Departments should not expect that faculty members will be assigned the same space on a continuing basis.

The Registrar’s Office coordinates all class scheduling and room assignments with departmental coordinators who, in turn, coordinate with their instructional faculty members. Academic departments should do the following:

1. Determine class offerings and submit schedule information no later than the specified deadlines.
2. Notify Scheduling of section changes or cancellations immediately.
3. Enter and maintain in Banner instructor information and maximum enrollment of all sections offered by the department.

Class Meeting Times and Zone Protocol

1. Classes that meet two days per week for 1 hour and 20 minutes must begin on the first hour of the zone.
2. Classes may not begin on the half hour; the exceptions are TR, Zone 1; and Zone 5.
3. Classes that meet for longer than two hours (110 minutes) per session must be scheduled in Zone 5.
4. Class meeting times may not cross time zones. Departments may cross time zones when scheduling 500- or 600-level graduate classes that meet for longer than two hours per session if they use their own department-controlled classroom.
5. Each department must distribute its classes across all five days of the week (approximately 20 percent per day) and across the full class day (according to the percentages defined for each zone). Each class day has five zones. All classes must comply with the zones whether they are assigned to general purpose classrooms or departmental classrooms. Labs that will use GP classrooms must follow rules for lectures.
6. Non-credit sections (those sections that have zero credit) are scheduled after all credit-bearing sections are assigned rooms.
7. Use of classroom facilities for non-academic events must be approved and assigned by Scheduling.

Scheduling for MW, or WF, 3-Credit Sections

We will not reserve rooms for 3-credit courses on MW or WF except in Zone 5.

Three-credit sections can be scheduled in any zone if they are taught on MWF.

Scheduling for Lectures Meeting One Day a Week

Because of the demand for classrooms in the middle of the instructional day, it will not be possible to schedule sections that meet one day a week except in Zone 5 or on Friday.

If a department can schedule additional sections with "complementary" day and time schedules in the same time slot on different days, then we may be able to accommodate requests for one-day-a-week meetings. If, for example, one 3-credit course is scheduled into a room on M at 10–11, then a different section can schedule its meeting from 10–11 on W or WF in the same room.

Scheduling Classes on Fridays

Fridays are often used for department meetings, for instructor office hours, for research responsibilities, and for other tasks related to instructional work. Friday, though, is an instructional day and the zone percentages specifically take Friday into account, asking for 20% of sections for each day. In recent terms, our emphasis in using zones has been on stretching out the instructional day from 8 am to early evening, and that has been done primarily in the Monday through Thursday span.

Again, because of classroom availability limitations, please make use of Friday as an instructional day. The increased use of Friday for class sections makes more effective and efficient use of classrooms.

Scheduling in Departmental Classrooms

The zone percentages were established for two reasons—to assure student access to classes, and to ease the difficulty in assigning rooms. Though the zone percentages are applied regardless of whether the sections are scheduled in general purpose or departmental classrooms, if you can schedule sections in departmental rooms, that will alleviate some of the pressures on assigning GP classrooms.

Using departmental rooms is not an option for all departments, and departments may not be able to assign all sections to departmental rooms; however, if you are able to assign sections to departmental rooms, please do so.

Zone Scheduling - More Information

For assistance in avoiding course conflicts we have provided the following Course Conflict Identifier spreadsheet. Also, for more information view this informational power point below.

Attachment	Size
Conflict Avoidance.xlsx	24.1 KB