University’s class scheduling to change in fall 2018

Beginning fall 2018, UNC Charlotte will return to a class schedule that includes 50-minute classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. There will be a 15-minute transition between each class period. Any 75-minute classes held on two of the three days will occur at 2:30 p.m. and later.

Tuesday and Thursday classes will continue to meet in 75-minute blocks beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The move is part of a series of recommendations made by a chancellor-appointed taskforce, led by Professor Richard Buttimer, that examined the causes of campus congestion.

The change to the class schedule will not only help disperse the campus population across five days, it will also help stagger the departure times at the end of the day, when on-campus traffic can be most challenging.

“The current schedule of most classes meeting twice a week for 75 minutes was instituted 10 years ago to accommodate the time it took for students and faculty to travel, primarily on foot, to far-flung classes on our expanding campus,” wrote Chancellor Philip L. Dubois in an email to faculty, staff and students. “With changes in how classes are scheduled and our recently enhanced Niner Transit service, this concern has been greatly reduced.”

Additionally, the change will help the University use classroom resources more efficiently, a factor influencing state funding for capital projects. There is currently a significant gap in the number of students in classrooms on Friday than other days of the week. In fall 2016, the difference was more than 50 percent. Equalizing classroom utilization will enhance the University’s competitiveness for future resources.

The University also hopes the change will enhance the campus experience for students by engaging them throughout the week and into the weekend.

For more information, visit the Academic Affairs website.