MINIMUM CLASS SIZE POLICY

PURPOSE

 Class size has a bearing on both the efficiency and effectiveness if the instructional resources used to provide designed learning opportunities for enrolled students. The establishment of minimum class sizes for undergraduate classes, and procedures for documenting departures from these minimums, provides both the assurance of stewardship of resources and the flexibility to deal with variable conditions.

APPLICABILITY

 All for-credit classes taught by NMU employees.

POLICY

Definitions

Lower division courses are those courses with numbers below 300.

Upper division courses are those courses with numbers of 300 or greater but less than 500.

“Course” means any regular credit bearing course taught by an NMU employee but excludes Directed Studies, Independent Studies and other “single student enrollment” courses.

Policy

One week prior to the start of classes in the fall or winter semester lower division courses must have an enrollment of 20 students or more.

One week prior to the start of the classes in the fall or winter semester upper division courses must have an enrollment of 10 students or more.

Procedures

Department heads will notify the appropriate dean of any courses that do not meet minimums one week prior to the start of class indicating those classes to be cancelled.

Courses with low enrollments which are not cancelled will require authorization from the dean and be documented on the form supplied by the Academic Affairs Office.

INITIATING DEPARTMENT/DIVISION

Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
227-2920

For implementing instructions, please click here:

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