Classrooms
Classroom assignments for courses are coordinated between academic departments and scheduling offices.
Instructors should immediately contact their department if the meeting time changes from the original listing in the Courses of Instruction catalog or when a change in location occurs after the initial classroom assignment has been determined.
To announce course meeting times and locations, the FAS Office of the Registrar produces a Course Meetings Location Report. This report is posted on the Registrar’s website prior to the start of each term.
To make audio-visual equipment or service requests, instructors should contact Media and Technology Services. (See Instructional Media Services.)
After-hour emergencies and problems with the temperature or ventilation of classrooms should be referred to the University Operations Center (617-495-5560). Classroom maintenance or repair requests should be referred to your department administrator, to Harvard Yard Operations (617-495-8842), or to the appropriate building manager.
FAS Classrooms Office
20 Garden Street
classrms@fas.harvard.edu
(617-495-1541)
www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu
The FAS Classrooms Office schedules about one-third of the classrooms in the FAS room inventory. The remaining classrooms are scheduled by the departments, centers, and houses.
Initial classroom assignments by the FAS Classrooms Office are made after considering a number of factors including instructional requirements, enrollment history, accessibility, special circumstances, and room availability at the time of assignment. Faculty members requesting classroom space scheduled by the FAS Classrooms Office have the opportunity to indicate their classroom needs for their courses and course-related events on forms that are distributed in May (for the fall term) and October (for the spring term). The FAS Classrooms Office encourages instructors to include requests for course-related events—films, lectures, midterm examinations—at this time. If another classroom is needed for midterm or hour exams, you may request an additional room so students can be placed reasonably far apart and have writing tablets. Classroom questions and requests may be emailed to the FAS Classrooms Office. Departmental classroom assignments should be confirmed with departmental schedulers.
Courses and sections have their assigned classrooms reserved from the first day of the term through the end of the Reading Period. During the Examination Period, all classrooms are reserved for Final Exams. Classrooms are not reserved during University holidays and recesses.
Classroom Reassignment: Due to the fluctuation of enrollment during the shopping period, the FAS Classrooms Office typically does not reassign classrooms until after Study Card Day when initial enrollment figures are more accurate. However, if, after the first day of classes, there seems to be an urgent need to change room assignments, contact the FAS Classrooms Office immediately (617-495-1541). As a reminder, room assignments are subject to change due to enrollment numbers or other pedagogical needs.
Discussion Sections: Instructors should direct their Head Teaching Fellows to the FAS Registrar’s website to access “Guidelines for Requesting Section Space” and a blank classroom request form. Classrooms for discussion sections are reserved on a first come, first serve basis.
Fall/Repeat Spring and Full Year Courses: For all full year and fall/repeat spring courses that have the same meeting day and time for the spring term as they have in the current fall term, the FAS Classrooms Office anticipates being able to assign the same classroom. Departmental classroom assignments should be confirmed with departmental schedulers.
Reading Period: A course is scheduled into a classroom from the first day of the term through the end of Reading Period. Since classroom space is limited during the Reading Period, it is recommended that instructors should hold review sessions in regularly-assigned classrooms.
Examination Period: During the Final Examination Period, all classrooms are reserved for the Office of Final Examinations. After the final examination schedule is set, limited classroom space may become available for review sessions.
Visitor’s Guide to Larger Lectures: Each term, the FAS Office of the Registrar produces the Visitor’s Guide to Larger Lectures. This guide is available to visiting prospective students and their parents through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid website. Any instructor who does not wish to have his or her course listed in the guide should contact the FAS Classrooms Office no later than Study Card Day.
FAS Registrar’s Office Website
The following documents are posted to the website (Go to the FAS Registrar’s website, click on "Faculty/Administrators" and then "Classrooms"):
Courses
- Course Meetings Location Report FAS
Classroom Inventory
- Comprehensive FAS Classroom Inventory
Classroom Request Forms
- Classroom Request Sheet for FAS
Courses and Sections
- Guidelines for Requesting Discussion
Section Space
- One-Time Event Classroom Request Form
