Summer study space renovations

The Office of Classroom Management (OCM) completed a few study space renovations this summer. Skok Hall B50, formerly the Forestry Library, is now a study space that seats 150 and includes lounge seating and group tables. Additionally, the College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Sciences will be putting an advising office into the space.

Additional seating was installed late summer 2012 in the Willey Hall atrium, bringing the capacity from 81 to 139.

Ruttan Hall study space (room 10) is again available after being unavailable during a summer construction project adjacent to the space. The space now has updated vending, improved access, and new glass partitions to reduce noise flow.

Scheduling Update: Reminder about fall 2012 final exam scheduling

Fall 2012 final exam scheduling will begin soon. The Office of Classroom Management scheduling team only schedules final exams for classes that meet in general purpose classrooms. Final exams for classes that meet in departmental space need to be scheduled within the department.

Because of space constraints on campus, it is more important than ever to let the Scheduling team know if there are sections that will not require a general purpose classroom during finals week. Please notify the Scheduling team of course sections that will not require a classroom during finals week by emailingocmsched@umn.edu with the subject line "Fall 2012 Final Exam" and the course and section number(s) in the body.

Scheduling Update: Spring 2013 (1133) scheduling continues

The process of placing unplaced course sections for spring 2013 is continuing. Please review assignments for your department to ensure all classes requiring a general purpose classroom have been assigned. Contact Scheduling with any questions about general purpose classroom assignments.

Please note: It will not be possible to accommodate all new requests for classrooms at high-demand times. To see if there is classroom space available at a particular time, email ocmsched@umn.edu. If you would like to schedule a class in a specific classroom, check the General Purpose Classroom Schedule Viewer to see if the room is available first.

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) always encourages instructors to verify their classroom assignment before the first class meeting.

Scheduling Update: Scheduling U - October 15-19, 2012

Join us October 15-19 for our annual scheduling workshop series, Scheduling-U! All schedulers should plan to attend one of the "Scheduling Update" sessions that will cover:

• new room scheduling software
• upcoming classrooms updates
• policy changes
• the PeopleSoft course/class coding project
• Academic Course Distribution Summary outcomes

Staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have about all things scheduling. For more information, please visit the Scheduling-U 2012 webpage.

Scheduling-U workshop schedule: 
Scheduling Update 
*Monday, October 15, East Bank, 1:30-3 p.m., 530A STSS 
Tuesday, October 16, West Bank, 1:30-3 p.m., 150 Blegen Hall 
Thursday, October 18, St. Paul, 10-11:30 a.m., 415 Alderman Hall 

Academic Scheduler Orientation 
Monday, October 15, West Bank, 10-11:30 a.m., 130 Blegen Hall 
*Wednesday, October 17, East Bank, 10-11:30 a.m., 140 Nolte Center 
Thursday, October 18, St. Paul, 1:30-3 p.m., 12 Biological Sciences Center 

AHC Scheduling 
Friday, October 19, East Bank, 10-11:30 a.m., D325 Mayo Memorial Building

*session will be recorded

Scheduling Update: Change to Summer 2013 production calendar dates

To accommodate an upcoming data conversion project involving course- and class-coding fields, the summer 2013 ECS production calendar dates have been changed. ECS period 1 for summer 2013 (1135) will open on October 22, 2012 and close on November 26, 2012. Please see the 2013-14 Schedule Production Calendar for more details.

Scheduling Update: 2013-14 Scheduling production calendar

The tentative 2013-14 scheduling production calendar has been posted. Some changes are still in the process of being updated (particularly the summer 2013 dates) but will be announced as they are made.

Scheduling Update: Save the date for Scheduling U

All schedulers are encouraged to attend Scheduling U this fall to learn about new information regarding Scheduling. Sessions will be held October 15-19 and will take place on the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses. More details will be announced soon.

Scheduling Update: Recap of summer classroom renovations

Several general purpose classrooms and study spaces were renovated or upgraded during the summer. Detailed project information is available on the OCM website, but here are a few highlights:

• Technology Updates: OCM updated classroom equipment in more than 50 rooms.
• Apple TV expansion: Apple TV will be implemented in Appleby 3 and expand to include Fraser 102, Vincent 16, and STSS 114, 118, and 412.
• Student Study Space renovations: 
  Renovations occurred in Skok, Ruttan, and Willey Hall Atrium.
• Furniture Updates: Furniture was replaced in Keller, seating and lighting replaced in Vincent, and seating replaced in Kolthoff.

Scheduling Update: Fall 2012 class cancellations

Remember to cancel classes with no enrollment for fall 2012 (1129). This will ensure that the room assignment is released and the class is no longer displayed on the Class Schedule.

What is a PCC?

Classroom Technical Services' Projection Capable Classroom (PCC) standard encompasses a set of criteria for the design and installation of technology in classrooms and conference rooms, giving faculty and staff the ease-of-use and reliability needed for classroom technology.

This criteria includes easy-to-use controls and devices, a room and furniture layout that promotes learning, network connectivity, and monitoring of the classrooms by OCM Classroom Support staff.

Classroom Q&A: Help! The door is locked

Many classroom doors have a rigid handle that does not turn that may make the door seem locked. Very rarely are the doors to classrooms locked. To open it, simply pull or push the door, instead of turning the handle.

If you find a classroom door locked, call the Classroom Support Hotline right away at 5-1086. All general purpose classrooms are scheduled to be unlocked Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., with limited rooms open on Saturdays. This schedule may be altered by events scheduled in rooms. For more information about classroom schedules, please see our FAQs.

Refillable Marker Pilot Expansion

In Spring 2012, OCM started testing a refillable marker product in Nicholson Hall as a more sustainable option for general purpose classrooms. The markers are able to be refilled with ink, preventing costly multiple replacements and supply issues. This fall, the pilot will expand to include Folwell Hall in order to gather additional feedback about marker quality and support. If you have any questions about this pilot, please contact the Classroom Support Hotline at ocmhelp@umn.edu or 612-625-1086.