ACADEMIC AFFAIRS PROCEDURE
Minimum and Maximum Course Enrollment
Procedure
To ensure an optimal learning experience for all students.
The maximum and minimum number of students enrolled in a course is set by the dean in consultation with
the faculty and is determined by pedagogical, spatial, financial, and safety reasons.
The following guidelines are usually applied to undergraduate courses.
1.
2.
100 and 200 level courses are generally set at 35 maximum, and 300 and 400 level courses are
generally set at 30 maximum, except those courses that fall in special categories below:
a.
The capacity of equipment-defined course sections (by laboratory seats, computer
equipment, sculpture studio, etc.) will normally be set at between 20-25 students depending
on available equipment/space.
b.
The capacity of course sections that require extensive social interaction or are based as
part of the program requirements on public presentations will be set at between 20-25
seats depending on program requirements as determined by the dean in consultation with
faculty.
c.
The capacity of course sections whose topic is writing may be set at 18. These courses
are characterized by multiple writing assignments, multiple opportunities to receive
feedback and rework assignments, high levels of individual attention both during and
outside of class, and intense interaction between faculty and students during class.
d.
The capacity of course sections with a 50+ hour fieldwork component indicated in the
course description and approved by the convening group and dean will ordinarily be set for
25 students.
e.
The capacity of 100-level First-Year Seminar course sections will be 25 students, and the
capacity of Critical Reading and Writing course sections will be 21 students,
f.
Writing-intensive course sections at 25 students.
g.
100-level science courses with labs may have a capacity up to 40 students in the lecture
part of the course.
h.
The minimum capacity of course sections designated as capstones and 400-level seminars
will be set at 17.
i.
All sections of the same course typically have the same capacity. An exception is online
course sections, which must have a minimum enrollment of 10 and a capacity of 25.
The minimum enrollment for all undergraduate course sections is 10 students for courses taught by
full-time faculty and 12 students for courses taught by adjunct faculty.
Procedures – 300-Z
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS PROCEDURE
Graduate Courses – minimum enrollment for graduate course sections, both face-to-face and online, is 10
students; capacity is generally set at 25.
Any exemptions to any of the above procedures are to be decided by the dean in consultation with the
Provost.
This policy is to be reviewed regularly.
2/27/1202/27/2012
Procedures – 300-Z