.01 Academic Calendar
A.
The academic year is divided into the fall and spring sessions (of approximately
15 weeks each) and summer sessions of varying lengths. Other sessions
of varying duration are offered on and off campus.
Senate
action and Provost approval, November 1996.
B.
Final examinations, when given, are scheduled into the last week of
the session. Prior to the final examination periods in fall and spring,
two study days are scheduled.
C.
The holidays and vacations usually observed by the university are as
follows: Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday); Christmas
and New Year's Day (included in the mid‑year break); Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day; Inauguration Day (every four years); Memorial Day; Independence
Day; and Labor Day. Classes continue until 10:40 p.m. before a holiday or a vacation period.
D.
The official calendar for each session is published in the Schedule
of Classes for that session. Faculty members and students should
check this source for final information about the current academic calendar.
The university reserves the right to change any published calendar,
including that in the Schedule of Classes, because of emergencies
beyond its control. Information about last‑minute changes will
be distributed as widely as possible.
E.
The Washington College of Law traditionally
follows a calendar which differs somewhat from that of the rest of the
university.
Manual
of Information, Regulations and Procedures, Section III, Academic Regulations,
third edition, p. 1; University Registrar, June 1976.
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.02
Scheduling of Classes
A.
Classroom assignments in university facilities are made and controlled
by the Office of the University Registrar. That office maintains a central
record of all assignments which is the only official source of information
about class meeting locations. While the University Registrar endeavors
to allocate to each class the room best suited to its needs, it is not
always possible to assign an individual class to the room preferred
by the instructor.
B.
Because of the pressure of space and the difficulties of developing
student schedules, deans and department chairs must observe the following
regulations:
1.
Classes must be scheduled into the standard class meeting periods. If
a class requires more than one class period, the additional meetings
must be scheduled to coincide with another standard period.
2.
Course offerings must be spread generally throughout all of the appropriate
available day periods. Major teaching units will be expected to use
each of the established periods before scheduling a second offering
in a given period. Teaching units should similarly distribute their
evening offerings across the days of the week from Monday to Friday
and between the early and later evening periods. Friday and weekend
classes may be scheduled at unit discretion.
3.
An overall review of proposed schedules is the responsibility of the
University Registrar. Modifications of the proposed class schedules
which may be necessary for space reasons may be requested by the University
Registrar. Provision will be made for representatives of each teaching
unit to review the schedules proposed by other teaching units prior
to submission of the copy to the printer. Each teaching unit is urged,
however, to engage in the essential interunit
consultation prior to this final check. The deans of the schools and
colleges may wish to establish their own direct coordinating processes.
4.
Classes listed in the Schedule
of Classes must meet as announced. When necessary, the room to which
a class is assigned may be changed by the Office of the University Registrar.
The instructor may be changed by the college, school, or teaching unit.
The class may not be moved from one class period to another without
the approval of the college, school, or teaching unit or from one campus
location to another without the approval of the University Registrar.
5.
Since the results of registration often require last‑minute changes
in initial room assignments, care should be taken to note room change
notices posted on classroom doors. The most recent classroom assignments
will always be available through campus electronic media.
6.
A faculty member who wishes to schedule a special meeting of a class
must make arrangements for the use of a classroom with the Office of
the University Registrar in order to make sure the room is not otherwise
scheduled. The university does not, however, permit the scheduling of
extra class meetings by individual instructors on holidays, during vacations,
or at other times when university classes are not in session.
Senate
action, March 2000.
Provost approval, April 2000.
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.03
Cancellation of Courses
A.
Occasionally it is necessary to cancel a course because of low enrollment,
the last‑minute unavailability of an instructor, or other unavoidable
reasons. Every effort is made to announce a cancellation before the
first class meeting, but this is not always possible.
B.
The university is reluctant to cancel a course because of low enrollment,
but cancellation of 100–400‑level courses with an enrollment of
fewer than 15 students or of 500‑level courses with an enrollment
of fewer than 10 students may be necessary unless there is obvious justification
in terms of immediate student need for continuation of the courses.
C.
Occasionally, a student whose program warrants such action may be permitted
to complete a scheduled course cancelled by the university as an independent
reading course. This practice does not apply to off‑campus programs.
Manual
of Information, Regulations and Procedures, Section III, Academic Regulations,
third edition, pp. 1b‑1c.
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.04
Emergency Cancellation of Class Meetings
A.
Classes are expected to meet according to their announced schedules
regardless of weather conditions. Unless cancellation is announced publicly
through the usual media of local communication, classes will meet.
B.
When cancellations of classes are necessary, instructors are expected
to arrange with their students additional reading and study assignments,
or class meetings, to compensate for the time lost in class attendance.
A faculty member who wishes to hold a class meeting in lieu of one cancelled
may not schedule it on holidays, during vacation periods, or at other
times when classes are not meeting regularly. A special class meeting
should be at a time which is mutually satisfactory to the instructor
and students. Any student who cannot attend this special meeting will
not be penalized for nonattendance.
Senate
action, March 2000.
Provost approval, April 2000.
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.05
Authorized Class Periods
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:30 a.m.–
9:45 a.m.
A B M A B
9:55 a.m.–
8:30 a.m.–
11:10
a.m. C
D 11:10 a.m. C
D
11:20
a.m.–
12:35
p.m. E
F N E F
12:45
p.m.–
11:20 a.m.–
2:00 p.m. G H 2:00 p.m. G H
2:10
p.m.–
3:25
p.m. I J O I J
3:35
p.m.–
2:10 p.m.–
4:50
p.m. K
L 4:50 p.m.
K L
5:30
p.m.–
8:00
p.m. P P P P P
(once a week)
8:10
p.m.–
10:40
p.m. Q
Q Q Q Q
(once a week)
5:20
p.m.–
6:35
p.m.
(twice a week) R
S R S
6:45
p.m.–
8:00
p.m.
(twice a week) T
U T U
8:10
p.m.–
9:25
p.m.
(twice a week) V
W V W
University Registrar, June 1976
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.06
Summary of Schedule of Class Meeting Periods
A.
Daytime
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Twelve
sets of 75‑minute periods meeting twice a week:
Monday
and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday
Wednesday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.:
Three
periods of 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 10‑minute break, meeting
once a week only on Wednesday. Beginning and ending times align with
comparable 75‑minute periods.
B.
Evening
Monday
through Friday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:40 p.m.
Ten
sets of 2 hours and 30 minutes meeting once a week.
Monday
through Thursday, 5:20 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.
Six
sets of 75‑minute periods meeting twice a week: Monday and Wednesday
or Tuesday and Thursday.
C.
Weekend
Saturday,
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
Two
periods of 2 hours and 30 minutes meeting once a week.
University
Registrar, June 1976.
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.07
Regulations Governing Class Meeting Periods
A.
Day Classes: 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Courses
meeting twice a week for 75‑minute periods may be scheduled as
follows:
8:30 a.m.‑9:45 a.m.
Monday and Thursday or Tuesday
and Friday
9:55 a.m.‑11:10 a.m. Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday
11:20 a.m.‑12:35 p.m. Monday and Thursday or Tuesday
and Friday
12:45 p.m.‑2:00 p.m.
Monday and Thursday or Tuesday
and Friday
2:10 p.m.‑3:25 p.m.
Monday and Thursday or Tuesday
and Friday
3:35 p.m.‑4:50 p.m.
Monday and Thursday or Tuesday
and Friday
(Courses
meeting for four days a week must use the days listed above. Wednesday
is
not to be part of a four‑day sequence.)
Courses
meeting three times a week for 50‑ or 60‑minute periods
may be scheduled as follows:
Monday,
Wednesday, and Thursday or Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Beginning
hours for classes meeting three times a week should correspond with
the beginning hours of the 75‑minute periods using the same beginning
time for the Wednesday class. (Courses meeting three times a week must
use Wednesday and a single twice‑a‑week sequence.)
Courses
meeting once a week for 2 hours and 30 minutes may be scheduled as follows
with a built‑in 10‑minute break:
8:30
a.m.‑11:10 a.m.
Wednesday
11:20
a.m.‑2:00 p.m. Wednesday
2:10
p.m.‑4:50 p.m. Wednesday
A
limited number of courses meeting once a week may, with the approval
of the Office of the University Registrar, be
scheduled for days other than Wednesday. However, hours must conform
to the Wednesday schedule, and planning by the teaching unit must ensure
that both days of the two 75‑minute sequences are used in the
same room. Thus, a course meeting on Tuesday 8:30
a.m. to 11:10 a.m. must be paired with another course on
Friday at the same time or with two once‑a‑week discussion
sections, one meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45
a.m. and the other meeting from 9:55
a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
B.
Evening Classes: 5:20 p.m. to 10:40
p.m.
Courses
meeting once a week for 2 hours and 30 minutes may be scheduled as follows
with a built‑in 10‑minute break:
5:30
p.m.‑8:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday
8:10
p.m.‑10:40 p.m. Monday
through Friday
Courses
meeting twice a week for 75‑minute periods may be scheduled as
follows:
5:20
p.m.‑6:35 p.m. Monday
and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday
6:45
p.m.‑8:00 p.m. Monday
and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday
8:10
p.m.‑9:25 p.m. Monday
and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday
No
class scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. may meet beyond 8:00
p.m.
Teaching
units electing to use a 2‑hour once‑a‑week meeting
for 600‑ and 700‑level courses rather than the 2 hour and
30 minute meeting should contact the Office of the University Registrar
for the scheduling practices to be followed.
C.
Courses meeting once a week for 2 hours and 30 minutes may be scheduled
as follows with a built‑in 10‑minute break:
9:00
a.m.‑11:30 a.m.
Saturday
12:30
p.m.‑3:00 p.m. Saturday
D.
Laboratory and Studio
Because
of limitations of students' schedules, laboratory and studio hours should
be scheduled to begin at the above stated hours. These sessions should
be scheduled so as to cut across the smallest number of class periods.
University
Registrar, June 1976.
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