Verify class notes for all active terms

There are many class notes for spring 2017 (1173), summer 2017 (1175), fall 2017 (1179), and spring 2018 (1183) that appear to have incorrect information on the Class Schedule. Remember to verify all class notes for each of the designators you schedule. Class notes roll forward from the last semester if the class was offered and should be updated annually in CCS. If you are a department scheduler, it is your responsibility to ensure that class notes associated with your classes are updated.

Topics class entry in ECAS

Topics class entry in ECAS is a multi-step process. The more information department schedulers are able to supply in ECAS, the better ASR can facilitate in setting up the topics class correctly.
The free text field labeled “Proposal Changes” should be used to specify the following:

• Credit amounts for topic courses that are variable
• The session code (e.g., 001, 009, etc.)
• A preferred section number (if any)

By including this information in the “Proposal Changes” section, you can ensure that the topic title will be entered at the section level as soon as possible. Additionally, it is good practice to always confirm the grading basis at the class level. If you have any questions, please email ocmsched@umn.edu.

Confirm room assignments for spring (1173) and May/summer (1175)

Room assignments for spring 2017 (1173) and May/summer (1175) are available on the Class Search. Please review assignments for your department to ensure all classes requiring a general purpose classroom have been assigned. If a class does not need a classroom assignment, please notify ocmsched@umn.edu.

OCM only finds general purpose classrooms for classes with a blank Facility ID in CCS. If the Facility ID field is populated, OCM will not actively look for a classroom for your class. This includes being populated with a virtual space, such as ROOM000TBA, LAB0000TBA, ONLINEONLY, or AHCROOMTBA.

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

New Astra UPK topics

For Astra Academic schedulers, three new Astra Academics User Productivity Kit (UPK) topics have been published:

• Filtering Academic Sessions
• Adjusting Columns for Academic Sections
• Assigning Classrooms

UPKs are designed to provide simulations and documentation of University system processes. They can be accessed by clicking the "Help" link in PeopleSoft, from the ASR Training and Support web page under Astra Schedule, or directly through this link.

Class cancellation email is live

As of December 15, the class cancellation email was implemented from PeopleSoft. The email is generated for students on Crookston, Duluth, Rochester, and Twin Cities campuses who were enrolled in a class that was canceled by the department. The process runs daily from PeopleSoft. Below is an sample email for a Twin Cities student (note that the contact information is personalized for each campus).


If you have questions about this information, contact Stacey Tidball, Director of Continuity and Compliance, at tidball@umn.edu.

New class cancellation email

Starting in January 2017, students who are enrolled in a class that is canceled will receive an email notifying them of the cancellation. The email process will run daily from PeopleSoft. The email includes the following information:

• The subject, catalog number, section, component, and credits of the canceled class(es).
• Admonition to review their class schedule in MyU.
• Direction to contact their advisor or the offering department about the cancellation. 
• Direction to contact One Stop with any other questions.

If you have questions about this information, contact Stacey Tidball, ASR Director of Continuity and Compliance, at tidball@umn.edu.

Extended weekend classroom hours during finals week

Finals week begins Thursday, December 15 with Study Day. The last day of exams is Thursday, December 22.

Finals week

• Friday, December 16 to Saturday, December 17, 2016 (12/16 - 12/17)
• Monday, December 19 to Thursday, December 22, 2016 (12/19 - 12/22)

Study days

• Thursday, December 15 (12/15) and Sunday, December 18 (12/18)

General purpose classroom hours will be extended on Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18, to meet the needs of students and faculty during finals week. Weekday hours remain unchanged during finals week (see standard operating hours).

Saturday, December 17: All general purpose classrooms will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. to accommodate scheduled final exams and student study.

Sunday, December 18: All classrooms in weekend buildings will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. to accommodate students for official University study days. Weekend buildings include the following:

• East Bank: Bruininks Hall, Folwell Hall, Keller Hall, Nicholson Hall, Rapson Hall
• West Bank: Blegen Hall, CSOM, Hanson Hall, Humphrey Center
• Saint Paul: McNeal Hall, Peters Hall, Ruttan Hall

After final exams week, we will return to our standard operating hours.

**Please note building hours may vary from standard classroom hours. Be sure to carry your U Card with you at all times. For more information about specific building hours, visit the individual building details page via the Campus Maps website.

Classes during spring break (1173)

Do any of your classes meet during spring break week (1173)? If you schedule a class that plans to meet in-person, on-campus during Spring Break next semester (1173), you must fill out this google form by Friday, December 9, 2016 to ensure that a room assignment is retained during spring break (March 13-17, 2017).

Without receiving notification from you, we will assume that a holiday break is a holiday break, and that none of your classes have in-person, on-campus meetings during spring break 2017. Unless the form is filled out, class section meetings during spring break will lose their room assignments in Astra Schedule. Submit spring break 2017 class meeting form >>

Thank you for attending Scheduling U!

Schedulers from over 50 different departments participated in the Scheduling U workshops last month. Thank you for taking the time to join us! The presentations and related handouts can be accessed at the links below:

• Building your Class Schedule (interactive session): presentation »
• CCS Deep Dive: presentation » / handout »
• Events for Academic Schedulers: presentation »
• Scheduling Update Live: presentation »
• The Big Picture: presentation »