To better address course planning and effectively and efficiently utilize our faculty resources, deans and departments are asked to incorporate the following guidelines while building academic schedules for Fall and Spring semesters.
Beginning Fall 2024, we will be implementing minimum enrollments that classes must meet for a course to be offered. There will be some flexibility and situations where we allow low-enrolled courses or set small class size limits that differ from what is stated below, but it will require justification and approval by your dean. Deans have authority to make these decisions, which may include the implementation of a higher minimum than these guidelines.
Course minimum enrollment guidelines (all modalities)
- Undergraduate courses (not including lab/studio-based courses):
- Minimum enrollment for 100/200 courses of twenty (20) students
- Minimum enrollment for 300/400 courses of twelve (12) students
- Undergraduate lab/studio-based courses:
- Minimum enrollment of eight (8) students
- Graduate courses:
- Minimum enrollment of eight (8) students
An initial review of course enrollment will begin after Advanced Registration is complete, on or around April 22 for the Fall semester and November 25 for the Spring semester. Subsequent reviews will take place when new data about incoming students become available, around the end of May/August 1 and December 23. Note that decisions about 300/400 courses may be made in a different timeframe than 100/200 courses.
Multiple section courses should be combined, when possible, into fewer sections to redirect teaching resources where the need exists. This includes those courses that may meet the enrollment minimum if it is more efficient to combine sections.
Deans will work with department chairs to set appropriate and consistent course caps for their classes across modalities (online, in person, etc.) and level (graduate, undergraduate, cross-listed, etc.). Departments should review and, if necessary, adjust the number of upper-level courses (particularly electives) being offered based on curricular needs and enrollments in their majors/minors.