Title: Georgia Tech Implements 25Live for Enhanced Classroom Scheduling Efficiency
With limited classroom space on campus, the need for effective classroom scheduling across the Institute is more crucial than ever. To address this challenge, the Registrar’s Office at Georgia Tech introduced a new classroom scheduling optimization tool, 25Live, in October, which was utilized for Spring Semester classroom assignments.
Reta Pikowsky, associate vice provost and registrar at Georgia Tech, stated, “Georgia Tech has handled classroom scheduling in much the same way for many years. After a comprehensive review of this process, we realized our existing approach was no longer fair or optimal for the needs of our community. Campus has evolved, as have the educational needs of our students. As an Institute, it is central to our core values to be responsible stewards, and that includes thoughtful, strategic stewardship of our educational spaces — thus, the move to 25Live, a tool that we believe can help us achieve this goal.”
The implementation of 25Live is part of a three-pronged solution that includes converting event spaces into classroom-compatible areas and refurbishing outdated classrooms. Efforts were guided by the Strategic Growth Management Steering Committee and the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Academic Scheduling, which comprises administrators, faculty, and graduate student representatives from various Colleges and units across the Institute. These initiatives have allowed approximately 2,000 more students to secure seats in physical classrooms.
25Live takes into account details that the previous manual system did not, such as maximum room capacity and course size, for right-size space deployment. Accommodation requests and exception requests will still be considered by schedulers, as the implementation of 25Live does not override existing policies.
While spring semester classroom assignments may appear different due to 25Live, the goal is to match the needs of faculty and classes to classroom space more efficiently. The Provost’s office emphasizes that work will continue to refine this process and utilize the technology to its maximum benefit, gathering data to support decision-making and planning for an efficient future at Georgia Tech.
Karie Davis-Nozemack, executive chief of staff and associate provost in the Office of the Provost, acknowledged the potential challenges of adjusting to a new classroom location and emphasized the importance of feedback from schedulers and instructors to continuously improve the booking experience with 25Live.
The Office of the Provost has created a feedback form for the campus community affected by classroom scheduling, inviting faculty and staff feedback. Additionally, the Office of the Registrar will engage with campus schedulers to assess successes and challenges experienced with the new tool. Feedback from these efforts will be used to enhance future scheduling iterations.
In conclusion, Georgia Tech’s implementation of 25Live for classroom scheduling demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to efficient stewardship of educational spaces. By utilizing this tool and gathering feedback from the campus community, Georgia Tech aims to enhance the scheduling experience for all users. Stay engaged with updates on classroom scheduling improvements at Georgia Tech for a more streamlined and effective process.
