Welcome to fall semester 2012

Classroom renovations and updates 

Several general purpose classrooms and study spaces were renovated or upgraded this summer. You can find detailed project information on the OCM website, but here are a few highlights of classroom projects completed over the summer:

• Technology Updates: As part of the OCM's commitment to providing instructional technology in general purpose classrooms, OCM updated classroom equipment in more than 50 rooms.
• AppleTV expansion
• Student Study Space renovations: Skok, Ruttan, Willey Hall Atrium
• Furniture Updates: Keller (replaced furniture), Vincent (replaced seating and lighting), Kolthoff (replaced seating)

How to locate your classroom assignment
Room assignments for fall 2012 classes are available on the One Stop Class Schedule. Please note: room assignments are subject to change prior to the start of term. While this usually only affects a small number of classes, verify your classroom assignment before the first class meeting. If you have specific questions about your room assignment, contact your department scheduling coordinator.

Classroom technology instructions & videos
Classroom technology instructions have recently been redesigned. The previous PDF versions were replaced by printable web pages and updated to showcase classroom equipment and features available for each building with OCM-managed classrooms. The instructions for each building provide a list of equipment and additional features, a list of rooms that include the equipment/features, and an image of the instructor station in each classroom.

• Find technology instructions and videos

Orientation is available upon request for those who want to learn more about the new instructions. For any questions, contact OCM Classroom Support or 612-625-1086.

OCM News Blog
Stay informed about general purpose classrooms and student study spaces by visiting the OCM News Blog. The blog provides news and information updates throughout the semester and is accessible via the OCM website or by subscribing using your favorite RSS feed/blog reader.

Contact us
OCM is available to help with any questions, concerns, or comments regarding general purpose classrooms or central student study spaces. Contact us via the Classroom Support Hotline:

• Call 612-625-1086
• Email ocmhelp@umn.edu

The hotline is available from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Messages left at the Hotline are monitored by an On-Call Manager for response as appropriate after these hours.

Classroom Q&A: Is there training available on the technology features in the classroom?

Yes! The Office of Classroom Management offers equipment orientation sessions to any classroom users who are interested in learning more about the equipment and its capabilities. To set up a meeting, please contact our Instructional Technology Coordinator, John Knowles at 612-626-8650.

Faculty help available from OCM rapid response team

As the semester begins, remember to contact the Classroom Support Hotline at 612-625-1086 if you need assistance with your general purpose classroom. The hotline is available Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Messages left on the hotline after hours are monitored by an on-call Manager.

As an additional service, for the first few days of the semester, OCM technicians will be pre-positioned throughout the Twin Cities campus to provide rapid assistance should any issues arise.

Apple TV pilot expanding to more classrooms!

In fall 2012, the Apple TV feature will be implemented in Appleby 3 and expand to include Fraser 102, Vincent 16, and STSS 114, 118, and 412. This feature was developed in partnership with the College of Education & Human Development and utilizes the services of the Office of Information Technology. 

Apple TV enables users to display presentations from an iPad or Apple computer using a wireless network. Contact Instructional Technology Coordinator John Knowles for more information.

Scheduling update: Classroom utilization reports

Classroom utilization is one measure OCM uses to ensure good stewardship of limited classroom resources and to reduce overall costs. Annual classroom utilization data is available on OCM's website. Reports for General Purpose Classrooms are available from fall 2000 to present. Departmental classroom utilization is also available for academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. 

To request additional information, please contact Christine Mounts.

Scheduling update: Releasing reserved seats

If reserved seats have not been released by departments, Academic Support Resources will do so for fall 2012 (1129) on Friday, August 31. Reserved group seats are always released the Friday before the first day of class each semester.

You may choose to release reserved seats prior to August 31 to increase enrollment. Guidelines for the Management of Reserved Group Seats are available to help department schedulers determine the appropriate release date. For questions on how to release reserved seats, contact the Student Records Training Team.

Scheduling update: Classroom instructions redesigned

OCM has redesigned their classroom instructions. On Monday, August 20, the previous PDF versions will be replaced with printable web pages. Each page showcases the classroom equipment and features available for each building with OCM-managed classrooms. The instructions for each building provide a list of equipment and additional features, a list of rooms that include the equipment/features, and an image of the instructor station in each classroom.

The process for finding instructions for your classroom(s) remains much the same. Simply search by room and the system directs you to a web page for the building you requested. You may also print the individual instructions for each equipment/feature you wish to know more about.

Orientation is available upon request for those who want to learn more about the new instructions. For any questions, contact OCM Classroom Support or 612-625-1086.

Scheduling update: Are you planning to use a department space for your class this fall?

Remember to add the facility ID in ECS! This ensures that students see the room location on the Class Schedule. Contact Scheduling if you do not have access to the department space in ECS.

Scheduling update: Check your room assignments for fall (1129) and spring (1133)

Room assignments for fall 2012 and spring 2013 are now available on the Class Schedule. Please review assignments for your department to ensure all classes requiring a general purpose classroom have been assigned. Contact Schedulingwith any questions about general purpose classroom assignments.

Room assignments are subject to change prior to the start of the term. While this usually only affects a small number of classes, the Office of Classroom Management (OCM) encourages instructors to verify their classroom assignment before the first class meeting.

Scheduling update: Course Guide video updates

Based on the low number of Course Guide video files, Academic Support Resources (ASR) has permanently discontinued the video upload service. This means users will no longer be able to upload videos with their Course Guide descriptions. Videos that have already been posted will continue to work whenever the same instructor teaches the same class, until it is removed by the department or the instructor.

Instructors will still have the option to upload a syllabus, photograph, and biography. Course Guide questions should be directed to the SR training team.

Scheduling update: Willey Hall auditoriums offline for summer 2013

Willey Hall auditoriums (125 and 175) will be offline for summer 2013 repair work and furniture replacement. As these are the Office of Classroom Management's (OCM) largest auditoriums, plan your course and event activity accordingly.

Scheduling update: Are you offering that class?

There are a large number of classes in the fall 2012 and spring 2013 class schedules that have a room assignment but no enrolled students. If you do not plan to offer a class, cancel the class in ECS as soon as possible.

Changing the enrollment capacity to zero and checking the "no print" box in ECS will not release the classroom assignment. Notify Scheduling if you cancel a class.

Scheduling update: Notes in ECS - Please check your work!

Remember to verify all class notes for your department on the Class Schedule. Class notes from ECS populate in the Class Schedule and roll forward each term. Be sure that the notes associated with your classes are still applicable.

Scheduling Update: Room assignments for fall (1129) and spring (1133)

Room assignments for fall 2012 and spring 2013 are now available on the Class Schedule. Please review assignments for your department to ensure all classes requiring a general purpose classroom have been assigned. Contact Schedulingwith any questions about general purpose classroom assignments.

The Office of Classroom Management (OCM) only finds a general purpose classroom for classes with a blank Facility ID in ECS. If the Facility ID field is populated, OCM is not actively looking for a classroom for your class. This includes being populated with a virtual space, such as ROOM000TBA or AHCROOMTBA.

Room assignments are subject to change prior to the start of term. While this usually only affects a small number of classes, OCM encourages instructors to verify their classroom assignment before the first class meeting.