5 Tips to Improve the Class Scheduling Process for Registrars

To streamline your course scheduling process, consider implementing new best practices to save time and eliminate manual data entry. Best practices include centralizing room scheduling, automating approvals, and implementing multi-term scheduling.

Many institutions currently employ less-than-ideal class scheduling business processes. Maybe faculty are emailing you at all hours of the night, or perhaps you aren’t enforcing standard time blocks. Here are five ways you can improve your practices right now:

1. Schedule for multiple terms at the same time (no more just-in-time scheduling). Save time and get more accurate forecasting.

2. Centralize your room scheduling. Scheduling should be student focused not instructor-centric. Meet your student’s needs and academic interests first. 
   

3. Formalize your exceptions policy. Encourage campus-wide collaboration. Outline all the circumstances when exceptions are allowed. Put it on your website, and enforce it. 
   

4. Create a scheduling committee with your executive leadership. Scheduling is at the heart of your institution. Build  a task force to determine best practices and get buy in.
   

5. Revamp your review process (challenge the status quo). Eliminate manual data entry to save time and money. Automating approvals is the way to go.
   

If your scheduling processes aren’t up to par, it can prevent students from graduating on time, frustrate instructors, stymie schedulers (and others), and cost your school millions. Effective class scheduling can have a significant impact on student retention and success, as well as faculty satisfaction, administrator productivity, and financial stability.