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Cornell University

Office of the Dean of Faculty

Connecting & Empowering Faculty

Resolution 136 – Allowable meeting time patterns

Passed: May 8, 2019

Sponsor: University Faculty Committee – Presented by Dean of Faculty Charles Van Loan

Senate Discussions: May 2019

 

Resolution

Resolution: Allowable Meeting-Time Patterns

Whereas there is increased demand for 75-minute classes;

Whereas there is increased interest in using longer periods for more than just “laboratories and similar exercises”;

Whereas there is excessive demand for reasonable exceptions;

Whereas it is important for the faculty to provide careful oversight of the rules associated meeting-time patterns and exceptions;

Be it resolved that the following list of allowable meeting-time patterns and exception policies be adopted;

Be it further resolved that the official list of allowable meeting-time patterns and the associated exception policies be maintained in the Faculty Handbook.

50 Minute-Patterns

Current

  • 8:00am-8:50am Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 9:05am-9:55am Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 10:10am-11:00am Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 11:15am-12:05pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 12:20pm-1:10pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 1:25pm-2:15pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 2:30pm-3:20pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 3:35pm-4:25pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, Friday
  • 7:30pm-8:20pm Monday, Wednesday
  • 8:35pm-9:25pm Monday, Wednesday

Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:00a 8:50a Any
  • 9:05a 9:55a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 10:10a 11:00a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 11:15a 12:05p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 12:20p 1:10p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 1:25p 2:15p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 2:30p 3:20p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 3:35p 4:25p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR,MWF,MTWR,MTWRF
  • 7:30p 8:20p M,W,MW
  • 8:35p 9:25p M,W,MW

75-Minute Patterns

Current Specification in Courses of Study:

  • 8:40am-9:55am Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday
  • 10:10am-11:25am Tuesday/Thursday
  • 11:40am-12:55pm Tuesday/Thursday
  • 1:25pm-2:40pm Tuesday/Thursday
  • 2:55pm-4:10pm Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday
  • 7:30pm-8:45pm Monday/Wednesday

Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:40a 9:55a MW,TR
  • 10:10a 11:25a MW(Only for courses numbered 3000 or higher), TR
  • 11:40a 12:55p MW(Only for courses numbered 3000 or higher), TR
  • 1:25p 2:40p MW(Only for courses numbered 3000 or higher), TR
  • 2:55p 4:10p MW,TR
  • 7:30p 8:45p M,W,MW
  • To open up the “middle three” MW slots with minimal disruption we restrict the slot to 3000+ courses. Care must be exercised in allowing for more “prime time” opportunities.

1 Hour 55 Minute Patterns

Current Specification in Courses of Study:
Laboratories and similar exercises:

  • 8:00am – 9:55am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 10:10am -12:05pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 12:20pm – 2:15pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 2:30pm – 4:25pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 7:30pm – 9:25pm Monday, Wednesday

Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:00a 9:55a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 9:05a 11:00a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 10:10a 12:05p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 11:15a 1:10p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 12:20p 2:15p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 1:25p 3:20p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 2:30p 4:25p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 7:30p 9:25p M,W,MW
  • 8:35p 10:30p M,W,MW
  • The only change is to drop the restriction that these meeting times can only be used for “laboratories and similar exercises.”

2 Hour 25 Minute Patterns

Current Specification in Courses of Study:
Laboratories and similar exercises:

  • 7:30am – 9:55am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 10:10am -12:35pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 2:00pm – 4:25pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 7:30pm – 9:55pm Monday, Wednesday

Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:00a 10:25a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 9:05a 11:30a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 10:10a 12:35p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 11:15a 1:40p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 12:20p 2:45p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 1:25p 3:50p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 7:30p 9:25p M,W,MW
  • 8:35p 10:30p M,W,MW
  • The only change is to drop the restriction that these meeting times can only be used for “laboratories and similar exercises.”

3 Hour Patterns

Current Specification in Courses of Study:
Laboratories and similar exercises:

  • 8:00am – 11:00am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 10:10am – 1:10pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 1:25pm – 4:25pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 7:30pm – 10:30pm Monday, Wednesday

Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:00a 11:00a M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 10:10a 1:10p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 1:25p 4:25p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 7:30p 10:30p M,W,MW
  • The only change is to drop the restriction that these meeting times can only be used for “laboratories and similar exercises.”

4 Hour Patterns

Current Specification in Courses of Study:
Proposed:

Start-End-Allowable Patterns

  • 8:00a 12:05p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR
  • 12:20p 4:25p M,T,W,R,F,MW,TR

Background

This resolution supports a more flexible line-up of allowable meeting-time patterns in order to address key issues and trends. The current set of allowable patterns that is annually published
in Courses of Study is confusing and has unclear origins. For convenience, it is reproduced at the end of this document.

Passage of the resolution will enable two major changes:

  1. Three new MW 75-minute patterns are now allowable. However, it is necessary to proceed with a measure of caution to guard against unintended side effects. We can only guess at the number of MWF courses that will migrate to the new MW patterns. Course conflicts that complicate the fulfilment of requirements and classroom availability are serious concerns. Therefore, only courses numbered 3000 or higher are allowed to use the new MW 75-minute patterns until further notice. The reasoning is that freshman and sophomore level courses tend to be larger and more of the “need-to-take-now” variety.
  2. The stipulation that the longer class periods must be used for “laboratories and similar exercises” (whatever that means!) is dropped. The responsibility for using the longer class periods in a way that makes pedagogical sense is an academic decision to be made by the instructor and the offering department. Consultation with a neighboring academic program is expected whenever a scheduling decision has ramifications for students in that program.

The policy for obtaining permission to use a nonstandard meeting-time pattern remains the same.