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Class Scheduling Procedures for
The College of Arts and Sciences
July 1, 2015 (Last Revised)
February 1, 2008 (First Issued)
These guidelines will have some flexibility based on pedagogical reasoning and
university priorities.
1.
Class schedules are to be constructed to meet the needs of the students and
the restrictions of the university.
These restrictions are typically related to efficient utilization of resources. The primary
method for achieving these goals is to make sure that the courses are spread across the
full day and the full week, so that the faculty members are teaching those courses which
are necessary for student matriculation, and that faculty members have fair and efficient
course loads based on their credentials. Each year we have to send a space utilization
report to UNCGA to demonstrate that we are using our classroom space efficiently. The
Chair is responsible for making sure that all faculty teaching courses at FSU meet
appropriate SACS standards.
2.
The Chancellor has approved specific times for courses as reflected on the
Approved Times form.
a.
Please note that regular daytime classes are to be either on MWF or TR.
The only MW classes are in the evening. All classes should be placed within these
approved times. The only exception for undergraduates are four (4) credit hour courses
which span two class times or one credit hour labs, as well as some unique degree
programs. However, their start times should be the same as the approved times and an
effort should be made to offset them with other courses during the week to maximize the
use of space. Another exception includes graduate courses, which may be set up one day
per week. Every attempt should be made to schedule other graduate classes in the same
time slot on coordinating days so as to maximize the use of space. For example, if you
have a Monday night class at 6:00pm, try to set up another one on Wednesday at 6:00pm.
Please keep in mind that increasing the efficiency of classroom use benefits everyone.
b.
5:00pm or 5:15pm = No classes at these times unless granted an exception by the
Provost
c.
2:00pm to 3:45pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays = No classes
d.
40% maximum of classes offered in daytime (8:00am – 5:00pm) on TR vs. MWF
e.
10% maximum of daytime (8:00am – 5:00pm) in any one time slot.
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f.
Evening classes are split equally between MW and TR.
g.
All evening classes begin at 6:00pm unless approved by the Provost
h.
All online undergraduate classes have a minimum cap of 30 students and online
graduate classes have a minimum cap of 15.
i.
When adding classes after the schedule has already been approved, the chair
should schedule them during the non-peak times.
j.
The Chair is responsible for making sure these guidelines are followed.
3.
Multiple sections of a course should be distributed in such a way as to best meet
the diverse needs of students.
4.
Posted Three-Year Course Schedule (i.e., Fall 2016 - Spring 2019)
Each program must establish a three-year course schedule, which they post on their
department website. The course schedule should be structured in such a way as to allow
students to successfully matriculate within a reasonable time period. Having a posted 3year schedule assists both students and advisors with planning.
When possible this schedule should differentiate between on-campus classes, online
classes, evening and weekend classes, and Ft Bragg. Assigning specific times and
instructors is unnecessary. The director of the Ft. Bragg program, the Community
College Coordinators, and University College should be provided with the three year plan
so they can plan as well. With the assistance of the Assistant Chair, the Department
Chair is responsible for coordinating the selection and approval of appropriate faculty for
all courses in their program. The Department Chair is ultimately responsible for the all
the courses at Ft. Bragg and any other off campus site.
Class syllabi must also be posted online and updated at least once per year.
5.
Courses taught in conjunction with the Cross Creek High School or Cumberland
International Early College High School
a.
Full time faculty and not part-time adjuncts must teach these courses, unless
approved by the Dean.
b.
The classes should be used as an opportunity to recruit excellent students to FSU
and your program.
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6.
Teaching Loads - Faculty Teaching Assignments
Department chairs, in collaboration with faculty and with approval by the dean, are
responsible for faculty teaching assignments.
The maximum teaching load for faculty members is 12 credit hours per semester. Faculty
members may be assigned fewer than the maximum credits for one or more of the following
reasons:
1. serving in administrative roles as assigned by dean and/or provost;
2. conducting research, service, and faculty development projects as approved by
the dean;
3. teaching graduate courses and active involvement in the graduate program,
such as directing graduate theses or dissertations, and/or grading
comprehensive exams;
4. teaching courses with more than the usual number of contact hours;
Deans are responsible for ensuring that teaching assignments in his/her respective units are
distributed equitably among faculty, meet the needs of students to make timely progress
toward degree completion, and meet enrollment funding requirements consistent with the
UNC funding model. In all cases, the annual comprehensive faculty evaluation will include
an assessment of the work for which the faculty member was assigned fewer than the
maximum credits and this assessment will guide future teaching assignments.
Teaching assignments for clinical experiences are based on guidelines from professional
organizations.
Teaching assignments for endowed professors will be determined by chair in consultation
with the dean.
Extra-duty assignments for faculty during the regular academic year must be approved by the
dean and provost.
Faculty members who teach more than 12 credits in a semester will either receive a reduced
load in the next semester or they will receive additional compensation. Faculty members
may voluntarily teach more than 12 credits in a semester without compensation to facilitate
student degree completion, but will not be required to do so. Paid faculty overloads must be
approved by the dean and provost.
The department chair has the authority to create the schedule, which best meets the
needs of the students and is fair to the faculty. However, we still must maintain the
above day and time distributions required by the Provost.
7.
SCH/FTE Ratio
The Chair is responsible for achieving at least an average 1.0 SCH/FTE ratio for the
entire department. After registration is complete, the chair will submit to the Dean a
spreadsheet displaying the SCH/FTE ratio for each faculty member and the entire
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department. The faculty should keep in mind that this ratio will be critical for requests
for additional faculty as well as the allocation of additional funds. All full time faculty
members should be engaged in completing the spreadsheet and the planning of how to
reach the department’s SCH/FTE goals.
If department does not reach the goal of 1.0 SCH/FTE, the department needs to show
improvement over the previous year.
Each full time faculty member is equivalent to 1.0 FTE, unless they have an
administratively approved and funded course reassignment. For example, the
department chair has a 50% reassignment funded by Academic Affairs, so the chair
represents a .5 FTE. An Assistant Chair has a 25% reassignment, so the assistant chair
represents a .75 FTE funded by Academic Affairs. If a faculty member has a course
reassignment funded by a grant, then they are a .75 FTE and the funding source is NSF or
whoever is the funding source. New incoming tenure-track faculty will be at .75 FTE
during their first semester, if they are participating in the Provost’s faculty development
seminar. Only reassignment times for serving in administrative roles as assigned by dean
and/or provost are considered or are paid by another source are considered funded for
calculating a department’s SCH/FTE ratio. Any other reassignments granted by the Chair
do not impact the FTE of the faculty member because they are unfunded. A part-time
faculty member teaching one class represents .25 FTE.
There is no official “release” for teaching two graduate courses. Thus, if someone is
teaching 9 hours for teaching two graduate courses, it is an unfunded release. They are
still expected to reach a ratio of 1.0 SCH/FTE. The assumption is that since graduate
courses are funded at a higher level, the “normal” load (1.0) may be obtained with only 9
hours of instruction. An assessment plan must be in place to assess the research work
accomplished by anyone who is teaching less than 12 hours with a non-administrative or
paid reassignment.
Finally, the department’s SCH/FTE ratio and the percentage of full time faculty with a
SCH/FTE ratio of 1.00 or higher will be used by the Provost and the Dean to help
determine faculty efficiency and faculty position needs.
8.
Before classes begin, Department Chairs are to provide the Dean with the
following documents:
a.
Document #1 (by Class):
The proposed class schedule for their department.
This document can be used by the department administrative assistant to enter the
courses into Banner.
b.
Document #2 (by Times):
The class distribution list related to the approved
times for their courses, illustrating the percentage of day time courses in each time
slot and the percentage of day time classes taught on TR. All times must remain
on the list even if the number of courses at that time is zero. The Chair also needs
to identify and explain any courses which do not fall within the approve time
frames.
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Before submitting the document, please double-check to make sure that:
(1)
no classes are offered from 2:00pm to 3:45pm on Tuesdays and
Thursdays;
(2)
no more than 40% of the daytime classes are on TR;
(3).
no more than 10% of the daytime classes are in any one time slot;
(4)
evening courses are evenly split between MW and TR; and
(5)
online undergraduate classes must have a minimum cap of 30 students and
online graduate classes must have a minimum cap of 15 students.
If any of these conditions are not met, the schedule will be rejected until they are
corrected.
9.
When the class schedule is approved by the Dean, the Chair will be authorized to
put it into Banner.
10.
a.
Overloads
Faculty do not have a right to overloads.
b.
All overloads should be based on the needs of students and the university, not
faculty desires for more money and be pre-approved by the Dean.
c.
The amount paid for an approved overload is based on how many credit hours it is
over 12 credit hours.
d.
Faculty cannot receive a course release for any reason and then receive
overload pay to teach 12 or fewer hours. No faculty member who is teaching
less than 12 hours may teach a course at another institution during the same
semester.
e.
No faculty will be approved to teach two overloads in one semester. This number
includes any courses taught at another institution, because teaching a course at
another institution during the regular school year constitutes an overload.
f.
All overloads are strongly discouraged for tenured or tenure-track faculty, so
other attempts to meet the needs of the students must be made to cover necessary
courses before requesting an overload, such as canceling low-enrolled courses or
unnecessary electives.
g.
Department Chairs should not allow Instructors (ABD) to teach overloads until
they have completed their dissertations.
h.
Department Chairs are not encouraged to allow tenure-track faculty to teach
overloads, especially if they are not on track for tenure.
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11.
. Summer School (including the May Intersession)
a.
Faculty do not have a right to teach summer teaching..
b.
All courses in the summer should be based on the needs of students and the
university, not faculty desires for more money.
c.
Summer Overloads are not allowed and the instructor will not be paid for the
course. The following are summer overloads:
(1)
A faculty member teaching more than two courses at one time.
(2)
Assistant Chairs teaching in summer session II
(3)
Chairs teaching summer session I
(4)
Twelve month employees, Assistant Chairs, or Chairs teaching online in
the summer
d.
All overloads are strongly discouraged for tenured or tenure-track faculty, so
other attempts to meet the needs of the students must be made to cover necessary
courses before requesting an overload, such as canceling low-enrolled courses or
unnecessary electives.
e.
Department Chairs should not allow Instructors (ABD) to summer school until
they have completed their dissertations.
f.
Department Chairs are not encouraged to allow tenure-track faculty to teach
summer school, if they are not on track for tenure.
g.
Funds for summer school are self-generating, so the Director of Summer School,
in consultation with the Provost, will determine the enrollment requirements and
salary for summer school classes.
h.
Summer school schedules and intersession course plans should be submitted as
early as possible to the Director of Summer School for review.
12.
The Chairs are responsible for ensuring that these procedures are followed and
that course load requirements are maintained.
13.
Before a class schedule can be loaded onto Banner, the Dean must be able to
verify to the Provost that all these conditions have been met. Once that is done,
the Dean will request that the Registrar open Native Banner for departments to
enter their courses.