Purpose

To publish maximum / minimum class size enrollment requirements and exceptions to these limits that ensure required courses are offered regularly and in a sequential order.

Scope

This policy applies to all courses during the fall and spring semesters and summer sessions across all modalities

Policy

1. Minimum Course Enrollments
   • 1.1 Departments, in coordination with the dean, should cancel, consolidate, or defer classes that are below the following minimum enrollment levels one week prior to the start of the term:
     • 1.1.1.  3 Credit Hours - 12 Students
     • 1.1.2.  2 Credit Hours – 6 Students
     • 1.1.3.  1 Credit Hour – 4 Students
   • 1.2. Approximately one week prior to the start of the term, the college deans and provost discuss any low enrollment situation that warrants an exception. Potential reasons for granting an exception may include:
     • Courses taught without direct compensation, such as Independent Studies and Tutorials.
     • Clinical experiences
     • Student teaching
     • Private Music Lessons/Music Ensembles
     • Internships/Field Experience
     • Practicums/Capstone courses
     • Independent/Directed Research/Thesis
     • The course is required for graduation and if the class were canceled it would impede the student’s or cohort’s normal progress towards graduation.
     • Required facilities and/or equipment will not accommodate the minimum number students
     • There is a pedagogical reason to limit the number of students in a course to fewer than the minimum number of students.
     • The course is required in a program and the class must be offered in a sequence or timing in order for students to maintain the proper sequencing of courses.
     • There are other factors to consider such as limits set for accreditation, safety, etc.
     • It is highly likely that the course enrollment will increase to the minimum enrollment level by the start of the term.
2. Maximum Course Enrollments
   • 2.1. The maximum number of students in most courses should not exceed 35.
   • 2.2. Course maximums may vary from these typical limits for the following reasons as approved by the dean:
     • 2.2.1. Courses that teach the writing process and/or are writing intensive
     • 2.2.2. Required facilities and/or equipment will not accommodate the maximum number of students. Note that online sections of the same course will not be limited by physical space.
     • 2.2.3. There is a pedagogical reason to limit the maximum number of students in a course.
     • 2.2.4. There are other factors to consider such as limits set for accreditation, safety, etc.
     • 2.2.5. In rare cases when a course is full and a student demonstrates a compelling case to overload the course (e.g., the student is in the last semester of study and their graduation will be delayed if they cannot join the course), the dean may approve their addition to the course.
   • 2.3. Some courses may be enrolled over the established maximum established in 2.1 above. Those circumstances will be reviewed by the dean and the provost. Instructors teaching those courses will receive additional consideration. This additional consideration may include instructional assistance, adjusted deployment, or supplemental compensation.