VANCOUVER, Wash. – Beginning fall semester 2013 Washington State University Vancouver will follow a standard course schedule with 50-minute classes scheduled on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 75-minute classes scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday. Variations to the schedule will be allowed to accommodate longer classes and labs. Currently 91ԹϺ schedules classes on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday. Few classes and labs are scheduled on Friday.
Moving to a standard course schedule accomplishes several goals. It will cut down on scheduling conflicts and make students’ path to graduation easier. It is a better use of the university’s facilities. It spreads classes more evenly throughout the day and week and will help alleviate “peak time” pressure on buildings, staff, students, faculty and parking. It puts 91ԹϺ in alignment with other campuses in the system for more seamless scheduling of videoconference classes, meetings and events. It will also create a more vibrant, active campus all week long.
This effort was initiated by the Office of Academic Affairs. A Scheduling Optimization Task Force with representatives from the staff, faculty and student body was established in 2011 to examine the issues and make a recommendation by February 2012. The transition to a standard course schedule was approved by administrative leadership and the Chancellor. A Standard Course Schedule Implementation Committee was established in summer 2012 and is working through the transition.
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Leonard Orr, chair, Standard Course Schedule Implementation Committee, 360-546-9086 orr@vancouver.wsu.edu
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu