Meeting Time Patterns

The Cornell University Registrar’s Courses of Study webpage lists the standard class meeting patterns for the academic year 2023-2024. Class meeting patterns are listed by duration and the number of times the class meets per week: 50 Minutes75 Minutes115 Minutes150 Minutes, and 180 minutes.

Offering a course during a nonstandard meeting time requires approval (see Exceptions Policy below) if the course is numbered 4999 or less or it is cross listed with a course that is numbered 4999 or less or co-meets with a course that is numbered 4999 or less. Approval is also required for Law School, Johnson Graduate School of Management, or Veterinary College classes numbered 5000 or above that meet between 7:30 am and 4:25 pm in buildings that are not part of their space.

The granting of exceptions partly depends upon the type of class, e.g., lecture, studio, seminar. List of class types and their definitions.

Additional resources:
Classroom scheduling and utilization
Academic classroom assignments

Exceptions Policy

Faculty must work with their department chairperson to make every effort within the academic unit to comply with the above standard class meeting times.  Only when local resolution proves impossible may the faculty member request, in writing, an exception.  The exception request must first be approved by the unit associate dean, or an equivalent individual designated by the unit dean, who must then seek final approval from the vice provost for undergraduate education, who may delegate this decision to the Office of the University Registrar. Scheduling policy exceptions that are granted are valid only for the semester for which they are approved.  Permanent exceptions will not be granted.

Exceptions are granted for various reasons. Here are some examples:

  1. A performance course with strict attendance rules has to be taught in the free-time zone when everybody is available.
  2. A required three-hour studio course has to be taught in the free-time zone because it would otherwise wreak havoc with student schedules.
  3. A physical education course has an unusual start time because of a facility constraint.
  4. A learning-where-you-live course has to be taught around dinnertime to guarantee sufficient enrollment.
  5. A less-commonly-taught language course or an optional/supplemental zero-credit course can only be taught very late in the afternoon because of instructor availability.
  6. A course being taught at another university that has a different set of meeting patterns is made available in real-time to Cornell students.

 

 

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