To: Jim Swartz, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College 
From: Instructional Support Committee 
Date: December 6, 2000 
Re: Classroom Use 


After several discussions, and a tour of classrooms, the members of the Instructional 
Support Committee feels that the dean's goal for classrooms to be used at 80% capacity 
is too high. It neither allows the flexibility necessary for scheduling, nor does it recognize 
the importance and prevalence of the informal use of classrooms. This informal use, 
whether by students, classroom breakout groups, for faculty-student consultation, or 
scheduled meetings should be taken into consideration when determining overall use 
patterns.


After discussions and tours with the registrar, committee members see the need for 
more classrooms that can comfortably accommodate 30 students. It seemed as though 
some changes could be made to existing classrooms that might address this lack of 
larger classrooms. The wall dividing ARH 130 and 131 can be removed to make a 
classroom that would seat 30 students comfortably. We recommend that the problem 
created by the lack of large rooms not be routinely solved by packing a small space with 
too many chairs or by adding an extra ring of chairs around a seminar table.
We encourage the registrar's involvement in planning for the renovation of existing 
classroom space and in the creation of rooms in new buildings. He has comprehensive 
knowledge of all the classrooms on campus, who is using them, who won't use them, 
and what needs are going unmet.


The committee endorses the proposed cosmetic changes to rooms in Carnegie, and in 
the basement of Steiner. We also note that there were rooms where new furniture might 
create more flexibility (ARH 318, Physics classroom in basement of Science Building).
We perceive the need for improved ventilation and noise reduction (from air handling 
equipment) in Carnegie, Steiner, and ARH.


The practice of assigning departmental ownership to classrooms requires careful 
consideration. We saw that ownership had both a positive and negative effect on the use 
of classrooms. Departments who have their name on a classroom have a commitment to 
use that room whether or not it is ideal for their purposes. Different disciplines have 
different pedagogical needs, however. A room very carefully designed for an Art History 
course may not adequately serve the purposes of a course in another field. Assigned 
rooms should provide maximal flexibility for a variety of uses while still addressing the 
specific needs of the primary discipline. The issue of classroom ownership will have the 
most impact on departments housed in ARH and Carnegie since most of these 
departments do not have assigned classrooms and are more likely to be directed to 
available classrooms outside of their building by the registrar's office.


The Instructional Support Committee recommends the creation of a classroom database 
which notes various features of that classroom, including blackboard space, windows, 
types of tables, computer equipment, etc. This database should be accessible via the 
Web. Classrooms should be assigned based on specific pedagogical needs, class size, 
and faculty preference. There needs to be enough classrooms on campus to allow some 
room for faculty to negotiate classroom assignments with the registrar's office.