Class Schedule Change FAQs
Table of Contents
General
When will the change to class schedules go into effect?
The change will be effective starting with the fall 2018 semester.
Why is this change being made?
This change is being made to help relieve campus congestion by spreading out the majority of classes across five days instead of four, staggering departure times for faculty, staff and students, and encouraging student engagement on campus throughout the week and weekend.
Additionally, the change in class schedules helps ensure the University is offering a robust number of classes for students, while making the most efficient use of classroom resources. This is especially important as the University looks to secure more capital construction resources from the state. Based on data from fall 2016, the difference in classroom utilization on campus is nearly 50 percent less on Friday than it is any other day of the week (approximately 15K on Friday vs. 30K and upwards Monday through Thursday). This change will help equalize classroom usage.
Are other options being considered to reduce campus congestion?
Yes, a task force made a total of 34 recommendations to Chancellor Dubois. You can track the progress here.
Why did the University have most classes Monday through Thursday?
The decision to have most classes meet for 75 minutes twice a week occurred about 10 years ago. At the time, the campus was expanding rapidly with the creation of the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) and the University didn’t have the transportation infrastructure in place to help faculty and students move quickly between classes. Now, with the enhanced Niner Transit service and changes in how classes are scheduled, this concern has been greatly reduced.
Faculty
How will this affect my teaching schedule?
How each your teaching schedule will be affected will be determined with your department and college leadership. Please contact them directly to discuss your particular circumstances.
What will I have to do as a result of this decision?
Department and college leadership will be responsible for organizing the class schedules in their areas. It is possible you may have to adjust your syllabi to accommodate moving to a three-days-a-week schedule, and you may also wish to use this opportunity to adjust the organization and teaching approaches in your course overall. Your department and college leadership will share with you information about any additional expectations they may have.
If I have to adjust my syllabi because of the schedule change, when do I have to have new syllabi completed?
Departmental and collegiate practices and policies around syllabi differ. In general, all faculty are expected to have their syllabi for fall 2018 completed by the start of class.
Am I allowed to “opt out” if I do not want to teach on Fridays?
All faculty members are expected to work with their department and college leadership to enact this schedule change in fall 2018. If you have extenuating circumstances that should be taken into consideration when creating the class schedule, please contact your department head directly.
Will adjunct faculty be disproportionately affected by the class change?
No, there is no expectation that adjunct faculty will be disproportionately affected by this schedule change.
Whom do I contact if I have questions?
You should contact your department chair.
Students
How will this change affect my class schedule?
The primary change you will note in your class schedule is the ability to take more classes for 50 minutes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There will still be some 75-minute classes offered for two of those three days beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Does this only affect undergraduates or will graduate students be affected, too?
The schedule change will affect both undergraduate and graduate daytime course scheduling.
Will evening classes be affected?
No, evening classes should not be affected by this change. The 50-minute class change will be applicable until 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Seventy-five-minute and 150-minute classes will be available after that.
Will this change affect the way I register for classes?
No, there won’t be any changes to the registration process.
Will my degree progression be delayed because of this change?
There is no expectation that any student’s degree progress will be delayed because of this change. Please consult with your academic advisor for any specific questions about degree requirements.
What if my work schedule doesn’t allow me to take a Friday class?
You will be able to build your class schedule during the registration period just as you have in previous semesters. Many classes are offered at different times, and you should choose the time that best meets your needs. Please consult with your academic advisor on any specific questions you may have about your class schedule or degree requirements.
Whom do I contact if I have questions?
Contact your academic department (the department that houses your major) if you have any additional questions.
Staff
How will the change affect staff?
Most staff will not be directly affected by this change. The most noticeable difference you will likely see is a more even distribution of population and traffic over all five days of the workweek.
If I work in Academic Affairs, what should I expect to have to do in the coming months to support this change?
College and departmental leadership will be in touch directly with any staff members who will need to take action in support of the schedule change implementation.
Whom do I contact if I have additional questions?
Contact your supervisor or the Provost’s Office at 704-687-5717 or academicaffairs@uncc.edu.
Families
My student is concerned about taking classes on Fridays and how it may affect their work schedule. What should I tell them?
Your student will be able to build their class schedule during the registration period just as they have in previous semesters. Many classes are offered at different times, and they should choose the time that best meets their needs. Please tell your student to consult with their academic advisor on any specific questions about class schedules or their degree requirements.
Will my student’s degree progression be delayed because of this change?
There is no expectation that any student’s degree progress will be delayed because of this change. Please encourage your student to consult with their academic advisor for any specific questions about degree requirements.
Whom should my student contact with questions?
Your student should contact their academic department (the department that houses their major) with any additional questions.