DRAFT Summer Scheduling Proposal
Proposal:
The summer semester committee proposes a change in the way that 3-and 4-credit hour, lecturebased classes are scheduled during the seven-week summer blocks. The current model for
standardized start times and class durations results in many overlapping classes in which one
group of classes is still in session when the next group of classes begins. The proposed model
would eliminate such overlap.
Why make the change?

The combination of a large number of start times and the offering of long-duration
classes results in frequent overlapping of courses and is confusing to students.

In Summer 2013, part time students earned an average of 4.9 credits and there was
anecdotal evidence that students had a hard time creating a schedule with the number of
classes that they wanted. This was concerning to advisory board members, and it was
determined that further analysis was necessary to understand why part-time students are
not earning more credit hours. Members of the committee evaluated the current standard
start times and the summer advisory board evaluated the data that lead to the proposal.

Simplifying the standard start times would allow students maximum scheduling
flexibility, making it easier for students to build a schedule with multiple classes, and
therefore assist students in progress toward graduation

Currently, 98% of classes run past the next start time (e.g., 7:00 classes run past 8:00),
but the larger concern is classes that run past a major start time (i.e., 9:00, 11:00, 1:00.
2:00).

Data from Institutional Research and Information (IRI) showed that of the 2,316 students
who took two or more classes during Summer 2013, only 271 (12%) took two classes
with the same start time (e.g. MWF at 9:00 and TR at 9:00). The vast majority took
classes with different start times (e.g. MWF at 8:00 and MTRF at 11:00).

The student omnibus survey conducted during Fall 2013 found students prefer classes of
moderate length (under 2 hours) and that meet 3 or 4 times per week. Students weren’t in
favor of meeting five days a week for a short duration or being in classes with a longer
length that met only 2 days per week.
Data suggests that schedule conflicts between existing course offerings also hinder student
progress to completion.
Issues and Challenges
The goal of changing standard start times during summer semester is to increase overall student
enrollment and the average number of credits earned from 4.9 credits to 6 credits. Achieving this
goal will better utilize summer and enhance student completion.
Under the standardized start time scenario, the standard start times will occur at two-hour
intervals between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day of the work week, and classes will last no longer
than 110 minutes. Because three-credit courses meeting just two days per week last longer than
110 minutes, they would be limited to 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. when they will not overlap with the next
start time for classes. Most three-credit courses would thus have to meet at least three days per
week. To mitigate the negative effect of this on faculty schedules, it would be possible to
schedule the classes on any three days of the week (e.g., MTW, TWR, etc.).
While this will require some work on the part of faculty to adjust their classes, we hope that you
are all willing to do this in order to benefit the students. More of the data that led to these
changes is available upon request from Tiffany Evans.
Submitted,
Margaret Bellon, Director - Graduation & Transfer Services
Eva Bernfeld, Director of Academic Scheduling
Mark Bracken, Associate Professor Biology
Steven Clark, Associate Dean College of Humanities and Social Science
Liz Childs, Sr. Director of Enrollment Management
Douglas S. Gardner, Associate Professor Student Leadership & Success Studies
Jim Green, Department Chair, Aviation Science
Stan Harward, Associate Dean, School of Education
Daniel Horns, Associate Dean College of Science and Health
Stanley Klemetson, Associate Dean Computing, Engineering and Technology
Deborah Marrott. Department Chair Basic Composition
Wade Oliver, Director of Advisor Training
Kevin Smith Associate Professor Accounting
Rand Smith Associate Professor Art and Visual Foundation
Tiffany Evans, Director Summer Semester