Class Times and Section Letters – Upcoming Change for Fall 2012 (informational item)
Currently, the class schedule uses the timeslot definitions (e.g. A = MWF 8am-8:50am) not only to identify timeslots in
which courses can be scheduled, but also as the section codes for each class in a given semester.
This dual purpose system worked well in pre-computer days as a way for students to more easily read their course
schedules and eyeball potential conflicts. Now that course information is online, and the computerized registration
system does not allow registration in courses that conflict with each other, the section letter system is no longer
necessary.
As BU continues to grow and more sections are added to the course schedule, it has become unmanageable to continue
using the section letter system. There are three major problems with it:



Once the original section is used (e.g. A for an ENGL 200 course) and subsequently AX, AY, and AZ are used for
additional ENGL 200 offerings in the same term, no more letters are available for additional sections of the same
course.
Some courses have special approval to meet outside the predefined timeslots. In these cases, the letter system
does not match the courses’ times/days, creating confusion.
The most significant problem is that once a section is created in CX, the section code cannot be changed.
Therefore, when a time or day change is needed, the section has to be completely cancelled and recreated from
scratch. If a day/time change occurs once registration has started, students must also be manually dropped and
reregistered into the new section. This causes a variety of problems, including the appearance that more classes
are cancelled than really are.
Beginning Fall 2012, timeslot definitions will be used only to identify timeslots in which courses can be scheduled.
They will no longer be used as section codes. Sections will be created using numbers in sequential order (e.g. section 01,
02, 03, etc). The current timeslot letters will remain in place and will be referred to simply as Class Timeslots.
CLASS TIMESLOTS
DAY CLASSES
Classes which meet on
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
A
B
C
D
E
F
8:00 – 8:50 AM
9:00 – 9:50 AM
10:00 – 10:50 AM
11:00 – 11:50 AM
12:00 – 12:50 PM
1:00 – 1:50 PM
EVENING AND SATURDAY CLASSES
KM – Monday Evening
6:00 – 8:45
UT – Tuesday Evening
6:00 – 8:30
LW – Wednesday Evening
6:00 – 8:30
VR – Thursday Evening
6:00 – 8:30
Z – Saturday Morning
Varies
Classes which meet on
Monday and Wednesday only:
Classes which meet on
Tuesday and Thursday only:
EF
FG
H
J
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
12:00 – 1:15 PM
1:30 – 2:45 PM
3:00 – 4:15 PM
4:30 – 5:45 PM
8:00 – 9:15 AM
9:25 – 10:40 AM
--Free Period-12:15 – 1:30 PM
1:40 – 2:55 PM
3:05 – 4:20 PM
4:30 – 5:45 PM