Project Status: Implementation
It is important for PSU to have an intentionally designed set of uniform class meeting patterns to specify the days and number of times a class meets each week, as well as the standard start/end times of the class periods. The design and adherence to the grid pattern can decrease course scheduling overlaps (i.e avoid creating unnecessary time conflicts for students) and maximize classroom space utilization. Results from the Student Experience Survey indicate that courses scheduled outside of the standard time grid are a barrier to their academic success. Not only do elevated levels of off-grid scheduling make efficient classroom scheduling difficult, but overlapping courses make it difficult for students to register for the necessary courses. If students cannot get the courses they need when they need them, they may have to delay their graduation by a term or longer.
This project aims to review our current time grid by engaging academic units and students in understanding their class meeting pattern needs to see if adjustments can be made to improve the grid and see how we can reduce off-grid. The goal is to recommend a scheduling policy or guidelines that offer optimal meeting patterns to support students and restrict off-grid scheduling.