1)      The Faculty Handbook (3.1.7 Class Meetings/Size) lists the following:

 

Class meeting hours at the University of Delaware follow the normal standards adopted by most colleges and universities. For a three credit class, this is typically three, 50 minute weekly meetings on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday sequence for a minimum of 41 class meetings during the fall and spring terms. Three credit classes meeting on the Tuesday-Thursday sequence will meet for 75 minutes for a minimum of 27 class meetings. Courses for other than 3 credit hours should likewise meet for the equivalent of 50 minutes per credit hour per semester week. Classes with laboratory components grant one credit for every two hours of laboratory work per week. Class meeting time during the winter and summer sessions should be equivalent to that scheduled in other academic terms.

 

Due to how the calendar falls each year a minimum of 41 days is usually not possible; 40 class meetings on the Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule is the norm. About every 10 years there are only 26 days class meetings on the Tuesday-Thursday schedule. Is UGS the proper starting place for changing the Faculty Handbook? It would be better if the Faculty Handbook had a more accurate description such as the following so faculty are not under the impression that they are guaranteed more days of instruction than there may be:

 

Class meeting hours at the University of Delaware follow the normal standards adopted by most colleges and universities. The fall and spring semesters will normally contain 68 days of instruction; a minimum of 65 days of instruction will be scheduled. Typically, for a three credit class, this is 50 minute meetings on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday sequence with 40-42 class meetings or 75 minute meetings on Tuesday-Thursday sequence with 26-28 class meetings. Courses for other than 3 credit hours should likewise meet for the equivalent of 50 minutes per credit hour per semester week. Classes with laboratory components grant one credit for every two hours of laboratory work per week. Class meeting time during the winter and summer sessions should be equivalent to that scheduled in other academic terms.

 

Or “41” could just be changed to “40” and “27” to “26”.