Central Timetabling Service

by Steven Boarder

The Central Timetabling Service ('CTS') was established in June 2004 with the appointment of Steven Boarder as Central Timetabling Co-ordinator. Its aims are to:

• ensure that available teaching space is best matched to the University's learning and teaching needs;

• allocate teaching space as equitably as possible;

• make available to staff and students information on the scheduling of modules and the availability of space;

• aid in the assessment of future demand for teaching space and the planning of its development; and

• aid in the construction of a maintenance programme to ensure that teaching space meets current and future demand.

In achieving these aims it is proposed to have a single central timetable on which all University teaching activities are recorded; this timetable - based on Syllabus Plus ('S+') timetabling software - will be made available to staff and students on the web. Given the magnitude of this task, however, a phased approach towards centralised timetabling will be taken.

Fuller details of the proposed implementation plan are available from the CTS, but for the 2004/5 session, work will be concentrated in a small number of key areas:

• bookings of the centrally-managed teaching rooms only will be recorded on S+ and made available on the web;

• a web-based pooled room booking request form will be introduced, in which users can specify their requirements and view current availability; and

• fuller details of the capacities, layouts, and audio-visual and IT facilities of the pooled rooms, plus photographs, will also be provided on the web.

It is hoped that the room bookings/timetabling web site incorporating these enhancements will be finalised during the first semester of 2004/5, when it is also proposed to establish an Advisory Group to assist in the development and implementation of timetabling activities. Faculty representatives to serve on the Group will be sought shortly.

If you have any queries, please contact Steven Boarder on 01382 345754 or s.boarder@dundee.ac.uk. The room bookings/timetabling web page may be found at www.dundee.ac.uk/roombookings/