Standardizing UAlbany’s time zones for course scheduling helps the University effectively maximize the instructional week, efficiently schedule academic spaces and avoid conflicts that can delay students’ degree progress.
Below are UAlbany’s current standard time zones for three-credit classes. For additional time zones based on credits, click the tabs above.
These are the basic semester time zones for all campuses:
| Monday, Wednesday and Friday (MWF) for 55 minutes |
|---|
| 8 to 8:55 a.m. |
| 8:25 to 9:20 a.m. |
| 9:30 to 10:25 a.m. |
| 10:35 to 11:30 a.m. |
Note: 80 minutes is one hour and 20 minutes.
These are the basic semester time zones for all campuses:
| Monday and Wednesday (MW) for 80 minutes |
|---|
| 8 to 9:20 a.m. |
| 10:10 to 11:30 a.m. |
| 11:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| 1:10 to 2:30 p.m. |
| 3 to 4:20 p.m. |
| 4:30 to 5:50 p.m. |
| 6 to 7:20 p.m. |
| 7:30 to 8:50 p.m. |
| Wednesday and Friday (WF) for 80 minutes |
|---|
| 8 to 9:20 a.m. |
| 11:40 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| 1:10 to 2:30 p.m. |
| 3 to 4:20 p.m. |
| 4:30 to 5:50 p.m. |
| 6 to 7:20 p.m. |
| 7:30 to 8:50 p.m. |
| Tuesday and Thursday (TTH) for 80 minutes |
|---|
| 7:30 to 8:50 a.m. |
| 9 to 10:20 a.m. |
| 10:30 to 11:50 a.m. |
| Noon to 1:20 p.m. |
| 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. |
| 3 to 4:20 p.m. |
| 4:30 to 5:50 p.m. |
| 6 to 7:20 p.m. |
| 7:30 to 8:50 p.m. |
Note: 170 minutes is two hours and 50 minutes.
These are the basic semester time zones for all campuses:
| Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (M/T/W/TH/F) for 170 minutes |
|---|
| 3 to 5:50 p.m. |
| 4:30 to 7:20 p.m. |
| 6 to 8:50 p.m. |
| 7:30 to 10:20 p.m. |
We also offer the following time zones for graduate classes that only meet on the Uptown Campus once a week, or for classes on the Downtown and Health Sciences campuses:
| Monday, Wednesday or Friday (M/W/F) for 170 minutes |
|---|
| 8:40 to 11:30 a.m. |
| 11:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday or Thursday (T/TH) for 170 minutes |
|---|
| 9 to 11:50 a.m. |
| Noon to 2:50 p.m. |
The basic semester class periods last for 55 minutes or 80 minutes (1 hour and 20 minutes). A three-credit class normally meets during the semester for either three 55-minute sessions (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), or for two 80-minute sessions (Monday and Wednesday, Wednesday and Friday, or Tuesday and Thursday.)
Note: For 8 Week classes, please use two of the basic time zones back-to-back. For example, a three-credit 8 Week class may meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
One credit represents the equivalent of one “hour” of lecture or recitation, or at least two “hours” of laboratory for one semester. Review our guidance on credit hours for more information.
Additional Guidance
Classes may not be scheduled using any format other than these standard time zones, unless previously approved. If any class sections fall outside these standard time zones without approval, they will be corrected during initial scheduling.
Requests for exceptions with department approval must be sent to [email protected]. Please include a rationale for why the class cannot fit the regular time zones and an assessment of how an exception may affect students. Note: Instructor preference is not considered a valid basis for an exception.
If an exception is approved, the class will be scheduled only after all other courses have been assigned a classroom.
Blended/hybrid classes meet once a week during one of these time slots:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday (MWF)
- Tuesday and Thursday (TTH)
- Monday and Wednesday (MW)
- Wednesday and Friday (WF)
This allows for the best utilization of classroom spaces, so that two to three classes can meet at the same time but on different days.
Whenever possible, please pair classes. If there is not an even distribution of blended/hybrid classes, the Registrar’s Office may ask departments to reevaluate their schedule and submit new dates/times.
For example: Class A meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Class B meets at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Both classes require 50% or more of the classwork to be completed online.
You must provide dates for blended/hybrid sections during Initial Scheduling. If the dates/times are unknown, departments should cancel the class and re-add the class when dates/times are available.
If a hybrid/blended class does not have dates/times and the department does not cancel the class during Initial Scheduling, then the Registrar’s Office will cancel the class.
Faculty are responsible for sharing the ten-minute “pass time” between classes. Every effort should be made to vacate the classroom in a timely manner, allowing the next faculty member to set-up and prepare, as well as allow the previous faculty member to make final remarks and gather materials.
There is no 'ownership' of this time. Students should be encouraged to meet with instructors during office hours rather than during "pass time".
Should conflicts develop, instructors should first attempt to resolve the concerns between themselves. If the result is unsatisfactory, department chairs must mediate conflicts. The Registrar’s Office is not responsible for managing conflicts during pass time.