Office of Origin: Academic Affairs
Responsibility: Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Original Date Adopted: 5-23-2017 
Dates Reviewed: 4-24-2017, 9-15-21
Last Date Modified & Approved: 5-23-2017

Develop a student-friendly schedule of classes using block scheduling standards, supported by enrollment forecasting data, which supports the success of all students, including non-traditional learners.

Guidelines

• Standard start times apply to Monday through Friday classes meeting at Benton Harbor, Niles, or South Haven campuses. Weekend classes and those taught at Allegan Technology Center and other off-site locations are exempt from standard start times and block schedule standards. Instructional minutes cannot be reduced regardless of location.
• Classes meeting for one or two hours per week can meet only one day per week.
• Classes meeting for three or more contact hours per week meet one or two days per week.
• Classes over five contact hours must meet more than one day per week.
• Classes meeting more than two days per week must be approved by the Academic Dean.
• The Academic Dean must approve any deviation from the standard start times or block schedule.
• Classes 90 minutes or less do not require a break.    
• Classes over 90 minutes require a 10-minute break.
• Classes 180 minutes or more require a 15-minute break.
• Classes starting after 3 p.m. must end before 6 p.m., with the exception of apprenticeship courses.
• Virtual Learning classes will follow the Benton Harbor Campus standard start/end times.

Block Schedule Exceptions

Courses that meet during non-standard times including those held off-site, clinical internships, Open Entry – Defined Exit or are concluded in 5 or 7 weeks are exempt from block scheduling. Otherwise, all courses will start and end at the standard times designated under the block scheduling format, unless an exception is granted by the appropriate Academic Dean.

Conditions that may warrant an exception include:

• High contact hour courses for which meeting in one continuous period would be an impediment to student learning (e.g., a Calculus class that meets for 2.5 hours a day, two days per week would not be conducive to learning.).  
• Certain Transitional Studies Courses:
  • Courses that are co-requisites or that are linked and students benefit from continuous sessions to avoid a 20 minute gap between sessions (e.g., MATH 095A and MATH 095; ENGL 101 and ENGL 099A).
  • Low contact hour courses that meet two days per week to align with co-requisite courses (e.g., MATH 095A).

All exceptions to the block scheduling format must be approved by the appropriate Academic Dean before their implementation.  
 

10-Week Term Standard Start/End Times 

Classes starting after 3 p.m. must end before 6 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean.  

*Includes a 10 min break
**Includes a 15 min break

Classes starting after 3:00 p.m. must end before 6:00 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean
*Includes a 10-minute break
**Includes a 15-minute break

Classes starting after 3:00 p.m. must end before 6:00 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean
*Includes a 10 minute break
**Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3:00 p.m. must end before 6:00 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean
*Includes a 10 minute break
**Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3:00 p.m. must end before 6:00 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10-minute break **Includes a 15-minute break

Classes starting after 3:00 p.m. must end before 6:00 p.m. unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10-minute break **Includes a 15-minute break

14-Week Term Standard Start/End Times 

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break **Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break
**Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break
Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break
**Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break **Includes a 15 minute break

Classes starting after 3pm must end before 6pm unless approved by the Academic Dean *Includes a 10 minute break
**Includes a 15 minute break