University of Maryland
Office of the University Registrar

Provost Guidelines for Class Scheduling
(Revised 4/1/2023)

On-Grid Scheduling Patterns
The University’s on-grid standard class scheduling patterns allow for maximum access to class offerings for students
and facilitate the most efficient use of classrooms.
The following is the day chart of the standard class scheduling patterns (with prime time hours shaded):

[table]
Period 1 Time 8:00 - 8:50 Monday Wednesday Friday
Period 2 Time 9:00 - 9:50 Monday Wednesday Friday
Period 3 10:00 - 10:50 Monday (prime) Wednesday (prime) Friday
Period 4 11:00 - 11:50 Monday (prime) Wednesday (prime) Friday
Period 5 12:00 - 12:50 Monday (prime) Wednesday (prime) Friday
Period 6 1:00 - 1:50 Monday (prime) Wednesday (prime) Friday
Period 7 2:00 - 2:50 Monday (prime) Wednesday (prime) Friday
Period 8 3:00 - 3:50 Monday Wednesday Friday
Period 9 4:00 - 4:50 Monday Wednesday Friday
Period 16 8:00 - 9:15 Tuesday Thursday
Period 17 9:30 - 10:45 Tuesday (prime) Thursday (prime)
Period 18 11:00 - 12:15 Tuesday (prime) Thursday (prime) 
Period 19 12:30 - 1:45 Tuesday (prime) Thursday (prime)
Period 20 2:00 - 3:15 Tuesday (prime) Thursday (prime)
Period 21 3:30 - 4:45 Tuesday Thursday


1. The University has two standard on-grid scheduling patterns:
● Three days 50-minute class on Monday (M), Wednesday (W), and Friday (F) starting on the hour:
MWF 8-8:50 a.m. MWF 12-12:50 p.m. MWF 5-5:50 p.m.
MWF 9-9:50 a.m. MWF 1-1:50 p.m. MWF 6-6:50 p.m.
MWF 10-10:50 a.m. MWF 2-2:50 p.m. MWF 7-7:50 p.m.
MWF 11-11:50 a.m. MWF 3-3:50 p.m. MWF 8-8:50 p.m.
 MWF 4-4:50 p.m. MWF 9-9:50 p.m.
● Two days 75-minute class on Tuesday (T) and Thursday (H) as follows:
TH 8-9:15 a.m. TH 12:30-1:45 p.m. TH 5-6:15 p.m.
TH 9:30-10:45 a.m. TH 2-3:15 p.m. TH 6:30-7:45 p.m.
TH 11-12:15 p.m. TH 3:30-4:45 p.m. TH 8-9:15 p.m.


2. The following are also considered acceptable on-grid scheduling patterns:
a. One day 50-minute class meeting (mostly discussion sections) scheduled on:
i. Fridays that start on the hour (i.e. 8 a.m., 9 a.m….)
ii. Off peak hours on:
● Mondays or Wednesdays start on the hour and end before prime time (i.e. 10 a.m.);
or start on the hour after prime time (i.e. 3 p.m.)
● Tuesdays or Thursdays start before prime time (i.e. 9 a.m.); or start after prime time
(i.e. 3:30 p.m.)
b. Two days 50-minutes class meeting that starts on the hour provided it is schedule with the exact
pairing days:
i. Mondays and Wednesdays (MW 8-8:50 a.m., MW 9-9:50 a.m….)
ii. Wednesdays and Fridays (WF 8-8:50 a.m., WF 9-9:50 a.m….)
iii. Tuesdays and Thursdays during non-prime time (i.e. before 9:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m.)
c. Two days 75-minute class meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays, during non-prime time:
MW 8:00-9:15 p.m. MW 8:30-9:45 a.m. MW 2:00-3:15p.m. MW 3:30-4:45 p.m.
MW 5:00-6:15 p.m.
d. 1 day 3-hours slot on F: 9:00-11:50 a.m., 12:00-2:50 p.m., 3:00-4:50 p.m.


Classes that meet the on-grid scheduling patterns are understood to be:
• Three-credit courses (400 level and below) with three contact hours
• Containing ONLY lecture and discussion meetings (i.e. labs, experiential components, and TBAs such as
individual study and online courses are not included)
• Scheduled in the University’s standard day-chart scheduling patterns (i.e. periods 1-9 and 16-21)
• Meeting only once in any given day


Off-Grid Scheduling
Classes that do not conform to the on-grid class scheduling meeting times result in inefficient use of classrooms
because they overlap multiple time periods and block maximum use of classrooms.

Assignments and Accommodations
1. Classroom scheduling priority will be given to classes that meet during on-grid meeting times. Classes
scheduled outside of these on-grid patterns will be slotted for classroom assignment after all classes in ongrid meeting times have been assigned rooms. These classes also run the risk of not optimizing classroom
availability, including having no room available.
2. Units are permitted to request classes with off-grid scheduling patterns. Justifications are required
(from the Colleges for undergraduate courses, and from the Department Chairs/Program Directors for
graduate courses) for these requests, and must be submitted to the Office of the Provost before the
requested classes can be scheduled in rooms. Consideration should be given to how such an
arrangement might impact the final exam schedule (e.g. T 9:30 - 12:00 and H 9:30 - 12:00 = TH 9:30 -
10:45 and TH 11:00 - 12:15).
3. Instructors requesting room accommodations due to disability must file a request with the Office of
Faculty Affairs, which will inform the Office of the Registrar concerning reasonable classroom
accommodations, including the duration.
4. The Office of the Registrar reserves the right to remove pre-assigned spaces if:
a. The room can be better utilized by another class
b. The time of the class prevents maximum use of the room throughout the day
c. A room change is requested due to disability accommodations
5. Classroom priority assignments will be reviewed every three years, and updated as appropriate. Room
priority scheduling access ends at the end of the online scheduling process.


Seat Utilization Goal
The Office of the Registrar will attempt to maximize the use of classroom space to be
resource-efficient. An overall room use rate of 67%-80% is required by the State of Maryland. Units are
asked to assist in reaching the seat utilization goal through use of on-grid scheduling patterns. Classes
where seats offered are less than 80% of room capacity may be moved to smaller rooms to accommodate
larger classes, including after students have registered.


Scheduling Distribution Goals
1. The most popular times for scheduling classes have traditionally been Mondays through Thursdays at the
prime time periods. Unfortunately, having too many classes offered on these days and times regularly
results in scheduling conflicts for students (which limit class access, and could negatively impact student
success), and in not having enough general purpose classrooms available to meet the high demand during
these popular days and times. In response, scheduling distribution goals have been established. Each unit
offering undergraduate courses should achieve the following target goals for its classes:
 Goal # Target Achievement in On-Grid Meeting Patterns
1 No more than 70% scheduled on MWF
2 No more than 45% scheduled on TH
3 At least 10% scheduled in Periods 1 and 16 (before 9am)
4 At least 20% scheduled after Periods 7 and 20 (after 2pm)
2. Each unit offering undergraduate courses must meet the scheduling distribution goals at the time of
submission of its schedule to the Office of the Registrar.
3. Meeting patterns scheduled into departmentally owned spaces do not count towards the 10% and 20%
limits.

4. A priority rank will be assigned to each unit on the basis of the distribution of its requests across all
standard meeting times. A lower priority rank may result in the need for a unit to change meeting
time, day, building, or classroom requests.


Guidelines to Achieve Scheduling Distribution Goals
1. Having consistent scheduling patterns makes it more efficient for students to plan their schedules (allowing
for more back-to-back classes) and makes it easier for the Office of the Registrar to locate available
classrooms in which to place classes each term.
2. Class schedules for an upcoming term begins by using the schedule from the previous like term as a
starting point (e.g. using the Fall 2016 schedule to plan the Fall 2017 schedule), and then making
adjustments as needed. The Office of the Registrar refers to this practice as “prior like term roll over.”
While this practice can make the process of planning class schedules faster and easier, using historic
classroom assignments and day/time scheduling patterns may not support the campus target goals for
scheduling patterns and classroom utilization.
3. Units must evenly distribute classes (including discussions) throughout the day (i.e. across class hours)
and week (i.e. day patterns) based on the scheduling distribution goals. Non-conforming units must
change class meeting times to meet distribution goals.
4. Where possible, classes that meet once per week should be scheduled on Fridays, or during off-peak
hours (i.e., before Periods 3 and 17, or after Periods 7 and 20), to the extent that these classes do not roll
into prime time hours. This leaves greater blocks of time when classrooms can be used consistently by
other classes that require classrooms multiple days per week.
5. If a once-a-week class must be scheduled during the Monday through Thursday timeframe, the unit
should make an effort to place another once-a-week class in the same classroom at the same time, but
on a corresponding meeting pattern day. For example, if a 3-hour long class is scheduled from 2:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, the unit should schedule another 3-hour long class in the same room at the
same time on Thursday to balance the use of the room to match the standard TH class scheduling
pattern.
6. Classes with unique scheduling patterns (e.g. MW) make it more challenging to schedule a classroom on
other days of the week at the same time and make it challenging for students to fit other classes around
this type of unusual pattern. If a unique scheduling pattern is needed, the unit should make an effort to
request classes with other unusual patterns in the same classroom at the same time on other days of the
week. For example, if a class requests to meet on MW 11:00 – 12:15, should they be offering any, the unit
should also consider requesting a one-day-a-week Friday (1 or 2-credit class) to be in that same room. This
leaves greater blocks of time when the classroom can be used for other classes.
7. Classes meeting only one day a week and meeting for more than normal duration (i.e. 50 minutes or 75
minutes) should be scheduled in non-prime time hours, particularly on Fridays.
8. Classes being scheduled off-grid should make every effort to use departmental rooms first, and be
scheduled at non-prime time hours.

Strategies Units may Use to be Resource-Efficient to Achieve Seat and Scheduling Distribution Goals
1. Identify faculty who favor the opportunity to teach early in the morning, or later in the day.
2. Encourage faculty to take into consideration the number of class sections taught within a week and the time
the class is offered (e.g. it may be more desirable to teach an early morning class if the class meets fewer
times per week).
3. Consider scheduling required, or popular, classes during non-prime time hours (e.g. before periods 3 and
17, after periods 7 and 20, or on Fridays) - students do register in classes that are either required, or
popular, regardless of when they are offered during the day or week.
4. Consider scheduling discussions, seminars, or other classes that meet only once a week on Fridays,
particularly since many classrooms are underutilized on Fridays.
5. Review each classroom assignment and class scheduling pattern, when preparing class schedules, to
ensure they meet the target goals for seat and scheduling distribution.
6. Reports that compare each unit’s performance against the scheduling distribution goals and classroom
size goals will be made available in the Office of the Registrar Report Library. Units are strongly
encouraged to review these reports when planning class schedules.


APPENDIX A: ON-GRID CLASS SCHEDULING PATTERNS
50-Minute Class Meeting
3 Days
MWF 8-8:50
MWF 9-9:50
MWF 10-10:50
MWF 11-11:50
MWF 12-12:50
MWF 1-1:50
MWF 2-2:50
MWF 3-3:50
MWF 4-4:50
MWF 5-5:50
MWF 6-6:50
MWF 7-7:50
MWF 8-8:50
MWF 9-9:50

2 Days
MW or WF or TH 8-8:50
MW or WF 9-9:50
MW or WF 10-10:50
MW or WF 11-11:50
MW or WF 12-12:50
MW or WF 1-1:50
MW or WF 2-2:50
MW or WF 3-3:50
MW or WF or TH 4-4:50
MW or WF or TH 5-5:50
MW or WF or TH 6-6:50
MW or WF or TH 7-7:50
MW or WF or TH 8-8:50
MW or WF or TH 9-9:50

1 Day
M/T/W/H/F 8-8:50
M/T/W/H/F 9-9:50
M/W/F 10-10:50
M/W/F 11-11:50
M/W/F 12-12:50
M/W/F 1-1:50
M/W/F 2-2:50
M/W/F 3-3:50


75-Minute Class Meeting 3-Hour Class Meeting
2 Days (TH)
TH 8-9:15
TH 9:30-10:45
TH 11-12:15
TH 12:30-1:45
TH 2-3:15
TH 3:30-4:45
TH 5-6:15
TH 6:30-7:45
TH 8-9:15

2 Days (MW)
MW 8:00-9:15
MW 8:30-9:45

MW 2:00-3:15
MW 3:30-4:45
MW 5:00-6:15.
MW 6:30-7:45
MW 8-9:15


1 Day
F 9:00-11:50
F 12:00-2:50
F 3:00-5:50

Note: Peak periods are bolden.