Tufts plans to implement a new schedule beginning in the fall of 2002, the University announced last week. Based on the existing block schedule, the new schedule will make better use of "quality" classrooms, result in fewer course conflicts and, "improve the quality of the teaching environment at Tufts," according to a letter sent to faculty on Dec. 6.
The modified block schedule will align start and finish times for most blocks, virtually eliminating time blocks that overlap by less than 15 minutes.
"The exercise went very smoothly," said Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs Kristine Dillon, adding that faculty "didn't need too much encouragement" and were generally very pleased with the new system.
The introduction of the schedule will also create new rules for departments to follow when planning class times, according to the letter.
Department chairs and program directors will be required to distribute their courses across the entire day and week, making better use of early morning and evening blocks. Departments will have to limit the number of courses in arranged time blocks - those not within the schedule - and a new committee of faculty and administrators will hear requests for such exemptions.
Administrators have long considered the block schedule plagued with inefficiency, saying it leaves classrooms empty and frustrates students by offering classes at conflicting times.
"Our existing schedule was a problem," Dillon said. "Students had complained that they had difficulty getting courses because they conflict, and they often had to change their schedule."
Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye began experimenting with a new plan last spring, designing schedules more closely resembling those at other schools. The plan, which was rejected, made classes available in either a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday format.
Simulations held last spring proved that the new schedule would have been too drastic a change. This semester, Inouye developed a less aggressive change by aligning start and finish time for blocks and more strictly enforcing existing guidelines to better utilize limited classroom space.
In a paper simulation conducted over the past two months by faculty and administrators, 46 percent of classes were offered during this peak time.
The simulation included 49 student schedules, representing a mix of class years and complex scheduling needs. Ninety percent of those students would benefit from the new schedule.
"Forty-five students said that they favored the modified schedule," Dillon said. "Given this set, we didn't think this was a bad number."
Deans Susan Ernst and Ioannis Miaoulis, who wrote the letter, said departments should plan to use the new schedule beginning with the scheduling cycle for next fall. They also wrote that they would likely impose a cap of 55 percent on the number of classes a department can offer during the peak mid-day hours. The letter also reassured faculty who believe smaller departments will be slighted in classroom apportionment. It promised that all departments will be treated equally, and their requests will be made public. It said that the new schedule will make classroom renovations more timely.
