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General Information

Scheduling Policies and Procedures

Room & Course Scheduling in the Office of the Registrar handles scheduling in about 250 rooms across campus known as Centrally Scheduled Classrooms (CSC). The University of Arizona has dedicated these spaces for classes. Events are scheduled in the spaces as availability permits. 

To improve classroom utilization, the University of Arizona implemented classroom usage guidelines in Fall 1999. This memo from the Office of the Registrar (download) in support of the Provost's Office policy was distributed to Deans, Department Heads, and Directors in October 1998. If you have any questions about the policy, please contact the Provost's Office.  

Basic policy overview:

  1. University classrooms are non-public forums, devoted and maintained for the purpose of providing higher education and are not places of public access unless they are reserved as set forth in this Policy, in which case they become limited public forums as defined below.
  2. The University is committed to protecting the free speech rights of students, faculty, staff and invited guests. The purpose of this policy is to respect the dedicated educational purpose of University classrooms while making such space available for expressive activity when not otherwise in use for its dedicated purpose.
  3. The University may regulate the time, place, and manner of free speech and expressive activities in order to prevent unreasonable interference or disruption of its educational, research, outreach and business functions, normal or scheduled uses of University property by the Campus Community, as well as protecting public health, safety and welfare. Commercial Activity is prohibited on campus except as authorized by the Sponsored Commercial Activity on University Property Policy. 

UArizona Colleges and Departments must follow the guidelines below so spaces are utilized in the most efficient manner, allowing the most class sections to be scheduled in each Centrally Scheduled Classroom (CSC).  

  1. Peak Hours: Peak hours in Centrally Scheduled Classrooms are defined as 9:00am – 3:00pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9:30am – 3:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. 
  2. Standard Meeting Patterns: Classes meeting during peak hours must be scheduled according to the Standard Meeting Pattern for the term they are scheduled in. Classes with nonstandard meeting times during peak hours cannot be guaranteed Centrally Scheduled Classroom space, but may be scheduled at the discretion of RCS if classroom space is available after all classes with standard meeting patterns are scheduled. 
  3. 35/35/30 Policy: Departments should balance their class offerings equally between Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday meeting patterns. No more than 35% of a department’s classes scheduled in Centrally Scheduled Classrooms should meet during peak hours on MWF, no more than 35% during peak hours on TR, and the remaining 30% during non-peak hours (before 9 or 9:30am, after 3 or 3:30pm, or on weekends). 
    1. This rule does not apply to classes meeting in Departmentally Scheduled rooms or off campus; classes scheduled in those rooms will not count towards the total percentage. 
    2. If a conflict arises wherein otherwise equivalent classes from different departments request the same room at the same time, preference will be given to the department which best complies with the 35/35/30 policy. 
  4. Historical Enrollment: Use historical enrollment when requesting a centrally scheduled classroom. A class should fill at least 70% of seats in the classroom assigned.   
  5. Room Requests: Rooms are assigned to classes for each term based on room size, room preferences, and technology needs, independent of any room assignments that were made for previous terms. 
    1. In order to receive an appropriate room assignment, the Enrollment Capacity, Requested Room Capacity, and Room Characteristics fields should be accurately filled out in UAccess Student before the end of the Open Scheduling period for each term. Class requests submitted after this deadline will be assigned rooms after the initial room assignment process through the Section Request - Change Process. 
    2. For special needs such as disability or hybrid scheduling, please fill out the Priority Scheduling request.

Questions or concerns regarding the information on this page should be directed to Room & Course Scheduling:

Phone: 520-621-3313
Email: rcshelp@arizona.edu

Administration Building | Main Floor, Room 210
1401 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721  |  P.O. Box 210066
Phone: 520-621-3113  |  Email: reghelp@arizona.edu

Office Hours: Monday – Friday,  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.