What is the Student Centred Timetabling Project?
What are the benefits of Student Centred Timetabling?
What are the main changes for the 2012-13 Academic Timetable?
Who approved these changes?
When will these changes take place?
How will rooms be allocated for the 2012-13 Academic Timetable?
What about teaching in specialist School-managed rooms?
Can I request to use a particular room?
Will I be able to specify when I want to teach?
When will I know which rooms I have been given?
What if the room I am given is not suitable?
Can I still book a room for a meeting?
Who will be responsible for the maintenance of the room?
I disagree with the changes. Who can I talk to?
How can I ask questions that are not answered here?
What is the Student Centred Timetabling Project?
In order to increase student interaction with the University and ensure students experience a five-day academic week, the University has approved a student centred approach to timetabling and room allocation. In order to achieve this, a staged implementation plan, overseen by the Student Centred Timetabling Project Board, has been approved by the University Operating Board.
What are the benefits of Student Centred Timetabling
- It will ensure that students are taught ‘close to home’, increasing student interaction and creating a stronger sense of identification with their School.
- It will increase the use of teaching accommodation within Schools, which will help to promote a sense of community among students.
- It will match accommodation better to activity type to improve the learning and teaching experience for both staff and students.
- It will help to ensure better use of the Estate and will result in opportunities to convert less well used rooms for other purposes, such as group study.
- It will ensure improved quality of accommodation across the University.
What are the main changes for the 2012-13 Academic Timetable
The Academic Timetable for 2012-13 will be written to ensure students are taught ‘close to home’. In order to achieve this, a designated set of teaching rooms, previously under School management, will be moved to central management from September 2012. Although priority will be given to ‘home’ Schools, these rooms will be available for use by other local Schools. The list of rooms which will move to central management can be seen here.
A number of rooms will be prioritised for upgrade during summer 2012. The works vary in scope from new furniture and AV to major refurbishment and will continue to ensure a minimum standard across all teaching rooms.
Who approved these changes?
The movement of School general teaching rooms to central management is a fundamental part of the Student Centred Timetabling Project, which was approved by both the University Operating Board and University Management Board in January 2012. The Directors of Education were advised of the changes at their Forum on 29 March 2012 and the UOB were further updated on progress at their meeting on 20 March 2012. The Project is supported by a Communications Strategy and Action Plan to inform key staff of progress and Project implementation.
When will these changes take place?
Refurbishment works to furniture and AV equipment will begin summer 2012. General teaching rooms, previously under School management, will move to central management from September 2012.
How will rooms be allocated for the 2012-13 Academic Timetable
Based on the methods used to model the timetable according to effective School zones, the procedures for creating the actual 2012-13 Academic Timetable will be amended to ensure that Schools are given priority for rooms in their green zone. Schools will be given priority for rooms in their green zone and in many cases, will still be given priority over rooms previously under their management, with other Schools’ classes only using spaces which remain available.It is recognised that there are rooms on the list to be brought under central management which remain appropriate only for use by the ‘home’ School, due to location or specialist equipment nearby.
What about teaching in specialist School-managed rooms?
Specialist rooms will continue to be managed by Schools and you should book these in the same way as you have in previous years.The list of rooms to be brought under central management, does include a few specialist rooms which are considered appropriate for use as general rooms by the ‘home’ School when not in use for the specialist function. Specialist activities will, however, be given priority for these rooms.
Can I request to use a particular room?
The Timetabling and Room Booking Unit will write the 2012-13 Academic Timetable giving priority for rooms in Schools’ green zone. In addition, they strive to allocate rooms fairly, balancing requirements and preferences across all departments and modules. Whilst you are welcome to request the use of a specific room and due consideration will be given to your requirement, there can be no guarantee that it will be available and you may be asked to revise your day or time request in order to be accommodated.
Will I be able to specify when I want to teach?
Day and time requests will continue to be given by Schools to the Timetabling and Room Booking Unit in the same way as they have in previous years. Please ensure that all requests are given to your School’s Timetabling Liaison Officer.
When will I know which rooms I have been given?
The draft timetable will be published to staff on Wednesday 8 August 2012 via Queen’s Online.
What if the room I am given is not suitable?
Changes to timetabling allocations can be requested by your School’s Timetabling Liaison Officer until Wednesday 22 August 2012. The Timetabling and Room Booking Unit will endeavour to meet all requests as fully as possible, however, there are occasions when we simply cannot do so. Providing your Timetabling Liaison Officer with enough information at the start of the timetabling process will help to ensure that the rooms you are allocated are appropriate for your teaching.
Can I still book a room for a meeting?
As with all centrally bookable teaching rooms, teaching activities will take precedence over non-teaching activity. Unscheduled slots within standard teaching time in teaching accommodation are available for ad hoc booking, but only once the timetable is finalized.School Board meetings that must take place in teaching rooms due to their size will continue to be accommodated within teaching rooms as much as possible. All other ad hoc bookings can be made using the online room booking system, Book a Room, after the timetable has been finalised. Any requests for teaching rooms received before the timetable has been finalised will be kept on file and scheduled, where possible, in the order they were received.
Who will be responsible for the maintenance of the room?
The maintenance and upkeep of all centrally bookable rooms is managed by the Estates Department and Media Services. A number of rooms will be prioritised for upgrade during summer 2012. The works vary in scope from new furniture and AV to major refurbishment and will continue to ensure a minimum standard across all teaching rooms. Further details about the works will be available here in due course.
I disagree with the changes. Who can I talk to?
The movement of School general teaching rooms to central management is a fundamental part of the Student Centred Timetabling Project, which was approved by both the University Operating Board and University Management Board in January 2012. Any concerns about the changes should be brought to the attention of your Dean or Director who will advise of appropriate action.
If you have a concern about planned refurbishments to a room, please use the contact pages to direct your enquiry to the relevant person.
How can I ask questions that are not answered here?
Members of the Student Centred Timetabling Project Working Group are happy to answer any further questions you may have. Please use the contact pages to direct your enquiry to the relevant person.