Classroom usage after Thanksgiving holiday and finals week

General purpose classrooms (GPCs) will remain unlocked and have the same hours (typically M-F 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.). Classes will remain “scheduled” in their current classrooms, and instructors may choose to use the classrooms to broadcast or record classes. We will not be keeping track of which instructors are using rooms and which instructors are not. Students may continue to use classrooms for study spaces when the classroom is not in use. They can also use other study space areas, which can be found on Study Space Finder.

During fall finals week, we will be scheduling all GPCs and GP computer labs to be used as student study spaces. Students can use the space for studying or for taking a final exam. This ensures all students have access to space during final exams. No events or construction will be scheduled at all during finals week.

Review spring 2021 room assignments

While OCM is still working to assign classrooms for all classes, most room assignments for spring 2021 are available on the Class Schedule. Most classes that needed a general purpose classroom have received one. Please review assignments for your department to ensure all classes requiring a general purpose classroom have been assigned. 

  Please note the following:

• If you notice a class without a room assignment, notify ocmsched@umn.edu ASAP, so we can work to find a classroom.
• Remind instructors to verify their classroom assignment before the first class, as room assignments are subject to change prior to the start of the term.

Adding the S/N grading basis for fall 2020 and spring 2021

As a reminder, instructors were sent this email informing them that they could update the grading basis for their classes to allow for S/N grades without going through the ECAS approval process. They were instructed to inform their department schedulers if they want to make this change.

This grading basis change is allowable for both fall 2020 and spring 2021 classes and can be made at the section level.

What do you need to do?

1. Please continue to take in these requests from the instructors in your departments.
2. Email ocmsched@umn.edu by November 13 with the following information:
1. Term
2. Subject
3. Course #
4. Section #
5. Instructor (name or ID)
   *If a class is combined, please include all subjects, course numbers, and sections included in the combined section.

We will change the sections to the OPT grading basis, which allows the student to choose between A-F, S/N, or Audit.  If you would like to make long term changes to your grading basis, this can be done in ECAS.

Spring 2021 session date changes

The Regents approved to move spring break for both the UGRD and GRAD career students to take place from April 5 - 9. This change for UGRD, GRAD, and LAW did affect the dates for the upcoming 1st and 2nd half term classes and have been updated as indicated below. A complete list of session dates may be found online.

• First Half of Term (session 009): 1/19/2021 - 3/8/2021
• Second Half of Term (session 010): 3/9/2021 - 5/3/2021

Room Search Tool: Update Nov. 25

During the Thanksgiving holiday, OCM will be launching a new Room Search website, and while the URL will remain the same, you will notice some big changes. These changes include a new look and layout, the ability to select multiple filters, and the ability to send a URL with the applied filters.

May/summer 2021 CCS closes December 11, 2021

We are currently in CCS Open Initial Build for May/summer 2021 (1215) until December 11, 2020. At the end of day on December 10, we will close CCS to make central room assignments. Please make sure to update all class sections prior to CCS closing on Friday, December 11, 2020.

Important request regarding grading basis changes for fall 2020 and spring 2021

Today, instructors were sent an email informing them that they could update the grading basis for their classes to allow for S/N grades without going through the ECAS approval process. They were instructed to inform their department schedulers if they want to make this change.

This grading basis change is allowable for both fall 2020 and spring 2021 classes and can be made at the section level.

What do you need to do?

1. Please take in these requests from the instructors in your departments.
2. Email ocmsched@umn.edu by November 13 with the following information:
   1. Term
   2. Subject
   3. Course #
   4. Section #
   5. Instructor (name or ID)
      *If a class is combined, please include all subjects, course numbers, and sections included in the combined section.

We will change the sections to the OPT grading basis, which allows the student to choose between A-F, S/N, or Audit.

Instructors were also sent this email yesterday, October 29, asking them to finalize the modality of their classes by November 9. Hopefully, most of this work has been done already.

If you have any questions, please contact us at ocmsched@umn.edu.