Schedule Planning
OSWSP provides many resources to help departments plan their summer and winter schedules, including enrollment history and financial data for past summer and winter sessions. Check “Quick Links” on the home page to learn more about these resources.
Our office provides a course proposal form for academic departments to collect course information from faculty. This form is optional, and is for internal department planning and scheduling purposes. Faculty should first consult with their department chair and then submit course proposals to their designated scheduling coordinators.
Download and complete the course proposal form here: Winter Course Proposal Form
Winter Session 2024 will include all course delivery options: in-person, hybrid, and online.
The deadline for academic departments to update their preliminary winter schedule in PeopleSoft SA is Friday, September 1, 2023. Faculty who are interested in teaching in Winter Session 2024 should consult with their department chair or designated scheduling coordinator in July or August 2023.
Winter Scheduling Guidelines
Winter Session 2024 begins on Tuesday, January 2 and runs through Friday, January 26. Classes can be scheduled over 18 weekdays in January, as well as Saturdays and Sundays.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Online Courses
Asynchronous: students can access the class anytime through Blackboard to learn the material on their own time and schedule. In an asynchronous course, students do not need to be online at the same time.
Synchronous: students are required to meet together online at pre-designated times based on a meeting pattern for the entire session. Synchronous courses should clearly state the required meeting pattern on the schedule of classes, so that students can plan in advance the days and times they must be available online.
UMBC’s Faculty Development Center has developed a tip sheet on Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction. You can find more information about Synchronous vs. Asynchronous remote instruction on their website.
Standard Meeting Patterns
Standard class meeting patterns have been established based on the minimum contact hour requirements. View summer and winter session meeting patterns on the Standard Class Meeting Pattern page under “Scheduling” for further details. Synchronous online classes should include a standard meeting pattern.
Contact Hour Requirements
Non-lab courses (lecture, discussion, seminar) must meet for 12.5 hours per credit to fulfill university contact hour requirements and lab courses must meet for 25 hours per credit. Refer to the Contact Hour Requirements page under “Scheduling” for further information.
Changes / Edits to the Winter Schedule
If it is necessary to make changes to the winter schedule after the September 1 deadline, please notify the Office of Summer, Winter & Special Programs by submitting an RT Ticket. Include “Winter Session Schedule Change” in the subject line of your ticket. Changes to the schedule, particularly those involving instructors, require our office’s involvement to ensure accuracy of information for scheduling and contracting.
Holiday Schedule
UMBC will be closed on Monday, January 15 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Classes meeting on Mondays that do not meet the minimum contact hour requirements due to the holiday, should schedule a make-up day. Make-up dates are determined by the instructor.
Inclement Weather
In-person classes cancelled due to inclement weather or an emergency closing of UMBC will be rescheduled for the first Saturday following the cancelled class at the normal meeting time and place. Instructors may also choose to schedule an alternative make-up day or time for their courses at their discretion. Contact our office to confirm room availability. Online and/or hybrid courses with an online component are expected to meet as scheduled. For UMBC’s Inclement Weather Policy and more information on campus closings select “Course Cancellations” under the Course Management menu above.
Training for Scheduling Coordinators
If you are a new scheduling coordinator or just need a refresher on how to schedule courses in PeopleSoft, training is offered. Fundamentals, advanced, refresher and best practices training sessions are offered throughout the year. For registration, go to Scheduling Coordinator Training.