TO BE PRESENTED TO SCSR ANDCSA FOR DISCUSSION

CALENDAR OF DATES-COURSE ADD/DROP DEADLINE

ISSUE

Usually, the course change (add/drop) deadline in the fall term is the second Sunday after the first day of classes. When classes begin after Labour Day, this normally allows 8, or exceptionally 9, lecture days before the end of course change. See examples below:

2000classes began after Labour Day4 Tu/Th & 5 M/W/F classes

2001classes began after Labour Day3 Tu/Th & 5 M/W/F classes

2002 classes began after Labour Day3 Tu/Th & 5 M/W/F classes

2003classes began after Labour Day3 Tu/Th & 5 M/W/F classes

When classes begin before Labour Day, the period for course change once classes begin sometimes shrinks to less than 8 days. See the following examples:

2004classes begin before Labour Day3 Tu/Th & 4 M/W/F classes

2005 classes begin before Labour Day3 Tu/Th & 3 M/W/F classes (based on first draft of calendar of dates)

In September 1999 when classes began before Labour Day, if the deadline had been on the second Sunday after the start of classes, there would also have been only 7 lecture days. Exceptionally, the deadline was extended to the Tuesday of the following week to permit a total of 9 lecture days (4T/Th & 5 M/W/F classes).

Proposal

It is proposed that, as in fall 1999, in all years when acourse change deadline of the second Sunday after the start of lectures would reduce to below 8 the number of lectures before the end of course change, that deadlinebe extended to the following Tuesday.

Benefits

1. This extension is of benefit to the students to permit them adequate class time to make their decisions. However, it does not extend the deadline by a full week which might have been seen as problematic by instructors.

2. It would permit students who take courses that are scheduled only once a week on Monday to make a course change on Minerva after the first course instead of having to have the change made manually by faculty staff.

3. It would not require that the deadlines for course withdrawal with or without refund be revised.

Anna Walsh

November 2004