Common Meeting Times

Allocation Recommendations

A workgroup was formed in February 2009 to consider the best possible ways to make use of the common meeting times that were created as part of the final phases of the changes to the university's calendar, to take effect in fall 2009. In addition to the traditional common meeting time (Fridays from 2:00-5:00), classes will not be scheduled during the Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-12:15 time slot in order to facilitate the scheduling of non-classroom activities that will enrich the campus community. The following guidelines are intended not as mandates but as suggested ways to help faculty, students, staff, and administrators best organize our time and minimize scheduling conflicts.

General Recommendations

  • Establish a predictable annual pattern of university-level committee meeting dates in order to facilitate curricular review and to set specific dates on the calendar no later than April of the previous academic year.
  • Create and maintain a comprehensive academic calendar online to show committee meetings and important registration dates and accreditation deadlines in one easy-to-access place.

Allocation:

Tuesdays 11:00-12:15

College- and University-level meetings/activities; cultural events; professional development activities; student organization meetings/activities including Student Life programming, trainings and seminars

The 1st Tuesday of each month would be open to scheduling any type of College- or University-level event

Reserve the 2nd Tuesday of each month for priority scheduling of faculty/staff professional development activities*

Reserve the 3rd Tuesday of each month for priority scheduling of cultural events*

Reserve the 4th Tuesday of each month for priority scheduling of faculty/staff committee meetings 

Reserve the 5th Tuesday of the month (there's generally one per semester, not including 5th Tuesdays in August, which fall within Welcome Week) for larger university-wide special events (such as the HMXP lecture series, career fairs, wellness fairs, etc.)

*This does not rule out the scheduling of cultural events and professional development events at other times.

Thursdays 11:00-12:15

College- and department-level meetings/activities; academic student groups, Emerging Leaders, Leadership Winthrop

Each College would have discretion over how to more specifically allocate Thursdays between the College and its departments.

Fridays 2:00-5:00

University-level meetings/activities; cultural events; student organization meetings/activities including Student Life programming, trainings and seminars

Reserve certain Fridays per semester for each of the following: College Faculty Assemblies (not including University College), Gen Ed committee, CUI, Academic Council, Graduate Council, and Faculty Conference/Graduate Faculty Assembly