Academic Scheduling - Semesters

The following resources and guidelines will assist you when planning your semester term schedule. 

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Semester Meeting Patterns

In the transition to semesters, Cal Poly has had the opportunity to thoughtfully evaluate meeting patterns with the goal to maximize students' scheduling opportunities and use of campus facilities. 

 

Cal Poly Time and University Union (UU) Hour

Academic Senate Resolution AS-978-24 approved "sun setting" Cal Poly time effective fall 2026, Cal Poly's first semester term. As such, class times will primarily begin on the hour and half hour, though there are some deviations based on component and required units. 

In addition, the University Union (UU) Hour—which historically occurred Thursday from 11:10 a.m. - 12 noon—will occur on Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m in the semester calendar. As such, lecture component courses may not be scheduled during this time without university approval. Departments may seek approval for exception to UU hour policy by emailing Class Scheduling. When seeking an exception, please include information related to the course, requested time block, and why deviation is proposed. Final review and feedback is provided by Academic Programs and Planning. 

 

Standard Time Patterns

Standard time patterns are used by the university to maximize utilization of classrooms and student access to classes.

Per Campus Administrative Policy 282, facility limitations make it necessary for each department to schedule 50% of lecture sections outside the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Please refer to the Class Time Spread Dashboard once your schedule is in PeopleSoft to identify distribution. 

• Semester Meeting Patterns (15 week)
• Semester Meeting Patterns (7.5 week) - Coming Soon
  • Reserved for 1 or 2 unit courses approved through the curriculum review process. Must be offered in college/department managed space. 

In order to maximize utilization of university controlled rooms, mitigate the potential for class overlap, and provide students with a wide range of class schedule options, the Office of the Registrar enforces university approved scheduling time patterns.

It is each departments’ responsibility to comply with these patterns to ensure the university is working as one cohesive entity. 

 

General Scheduling Guidelines

• Lecture, seminar, and discussions sections may be scheduled in university lecture rooms
• Activity and laboratory sections are scheduled in college/department rooms, following standard meeting patterns
• A course with both lecture and laboratory modes of instruction that is taught in a studio format is scheduled in college/department rooms
• Class meeting times are created using the 50-minute Carnegie Hour. Meeting patterns will include the following break time:
  • 1.5 credit hours in one day (75 minutes) will be scheduled for 80 minutes, includes one 5-minute break
  • 2 credit hours in one day (100 min) will be scheduled for 110 minutes, includes one 10-minute break 
  • 3 credit hours in one day (150 minutes) will be scheduled for 170 minutes, includes two 10-minute breaks
  • 4 credit hours in one day (200 minutes) will be scheduled for 220 minutes, includes two 10-minute breaks

Requests to deviate from university approved meeting patterns must provide detail on why accommodation is requested and note any impact on student scheduling and course planning opportunity.

Approval must be received from both the department and college using the Standard Pattern Deviation Form. - Form Coming October 2025 

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Final Exam Patterns

Final exams for activity, laboratory, or 1-unit lecture sections occur during the last week of classes. All other final exams are allocated a two and a half-hour block in the week immediately following the last week of classes. There will be 30 minutes of passing time between exams. 

Summer has a different final exam schedule to accommodate the multiple sessions offered during the term. Refer to the Calendars and Deadlines section of the Office of the Registrar website for term exam calendars; term calendars are published prior to student registration for that term.

Departments should utilize CourseLeaf CLSS to indicate whether a room is required during final exam week. Doing so allows for accurate facility utilization.

• Semester Final Exam Schedule (Fall 2026)
• Semester Final Exam Schedule (Spring 2027)
• Cal Poly Maritime Final Exam Schedule (Fall 2026) - Coming Soon
• Cal Poly Maritime Final Exam Schedule (Spring 2027) - Coming Soon

*Courses scheduled during the 7.5-week Half-Term Session will offer final exams during the last regularly scheduled class meeting.

A class that is scheduled with a non-standard time pattern may not have an allocated final exam time. In these cases, an instructor will need to do the following before the end of the fifth week of the term:

1. Work with the students to identify an exam time that will not conflict with their already scheduled exams.
2. Contact University Scheduling in the Office of the Registrar to schedule a classroom for the exam.

For more information, refer to academic policy for Final Assessments (Exams) on the Academic Programs and Planning website.