25Live update

25Live will replace Astra as the University’s class and room scheduling system on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. 

There are a few things we’d like to make you aware of as we prepare for this change:

• Events scheduled in your departmentally managed rooms in Astra will not be moving over into 25Live. Any event scheduled in Astra happening on June 17th or later, will need to be re-entered in 25Live. 
• How can you find your scheduled events in Astra? 
• Go to the Events tab in Astra
• In filters:
• Set start date to June 17th, 2025
• Select the rooms you schedule to find a list of scheduled events in those rooms.
• Export to Excel to have your list.
• Training for 25Live is available. This training is online and required to maintain access to 25Live. 
• Astra will become view-only at the end of the day on Friday, June 13. This is to ensure a smooth data transition. 
• If you have any internal materials (e.g., webpages, handbooks) that refer to Astra, please ensure they are updated to reflect 25Live. Upon launch, z.umn.edu/25live will be the replacement link. Current Astra z-links will be redirected. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ocmsched@umn.edu. 

Review room assignments for fall 2025 (1259)

While OCM is still working on assigning classrooms, most room assignments for fall 2025 are available on the Class Schedule.

• The Office of Classroom Management (OCM) only finds general purpose classrooms for classes with a blank Facility ID on the UM CCS Maintain Sched of Class page.
• If the Facility ID field is populated (including a virtual space such as ROOM000TBA), OCM is not actively looking for a classroom for your class. 
• Changes to room assignments do not generate automated emails. 
• If you change a classroom assignment, you must notify instructors and students directly.
• Room assignments are subject to change prior to the start of the term.
• While this usually only impacts a small number of classes, instructors should be encouraged to verify their classroom assignments before the first class meeting.
• Canceling a fall class? Please do so as soon as you know the class will no longer be offered. 
• If students are enrolled:
• Add “Stop Further Enrollment” on the class.
• Email the students to let them know the class is being canceled.
• Contact ocmsched@umn.edu to cancel the class.
• If there are no students enrolled:
• You can cancel classes directly in CCS on the enrollment control tab. 

Spring 2026 (1263) scheduling is in progress

CCS is open for the initial build of the spring 2026 (1263) class schedule and will be closed on July 14th, 2025 to make general purpose classroom assignments for spring classes. Please make any changes by the end of the day on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Prior to CCS closing, make sure to do the following:

1. Work with your faculty and instructors to obtain updated information for the term.
2. Update class information using the CCS pages in PeopleSoft:
• Cancel class sections that will not be offered this term.
• Set realistic enrollment limits and requested room capacities (+/- 10% of last year’s enrollments).
• Input instructor information and grade access in CCS.
• Adjust non-standard class meeting times to a standard time.
• Review classes outside of the Regular Session to ensure it is in the appropriate academic session (remember that classes in the extended regular session are typically not eligible for financial aid).
• Indicate the required room characteristics (technology, seating styles, etc.) needed to facilitate teaching and learning by using the room characteristic codes accessible on the meeting pattern page of CCS.
• Email ocmsched@umn.edu to add facility ROOM000TBA or NOROOMREQD to all class meeting patterns that will not require any room assignment, or that will meet in a small office space.
• Use Astra Schedule to assign departmental classrooms and labs directly to class sections.
3. Review the Class Scheduling Distribution Summary Report to assess department/college compliance with the distribution of meeting times (no more than 3% in any standard time block) and distribution of meeting patterns (no more than 50% meeting on Tuesday/Thursday).
• Avoid scheduling class sections in high-demand periods/days.

2026-27 production calendar

The 2026-2027 production calendar is now available. If you want the production calendar added to your Google calendar, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.

CCS user workshops

Please join us for our monthly CCS user workshops. These workshops allow us to connect with our departmental schedulers and review relevant topics.

These workshops are conducted over Zoom on the second Tuesday of the month from 11:00-11:30 a.m. (15–20 minute presentation with time for discussion). 

To attend a workshop, simply add the class schedule production calendar to your Google Calendar:

• Add to U of M Google calendar
• Add to general Google calendar

A Zoom meeting link and materials will be added to the calendar event closer to the day of the workshop. 

Upcoming topics

• June 10th - 25Live 
• July 8th - 25Live 

Susan Niece is retiring!

After over nine years on the OCM Scheduling Team, Susan Niece is heading into a well-earned retirement! Her last day will be June 6, 2025. If you've ever emailed ocmsched@umn.edu, you know how much she brings to the table—clear communication, deep knowledge of departmental needs, and a genuine commitment to service and student success. Susan played a key role in revamping our final exam process in recent years and is always the first to offer a helping hand to her team. We'll definitely miss her presence, but we're so excited for her next chapter. Congratulations, Susan!

Spring 2025 final exams

The list of final exams and common exams that have been scheduled is available on the Spring 2025 Final Exam and Common Exam Scheduled Rooms spreadsheet.

If you do not see a class on that list and know the class intends to have an in-person final exam, please fill out the final exam request as soon as possible.