The Commerce School changed its registration process from signing up for classes to an improved version of block scheduling. Hearing rumors, bits of conversations and fellow students comment about the new type of scheduling lead me to investigate the highs and lows of that innovative idea. According to Leonard, in previous years students have experienced difficulties getting the classes required for their core curriculum, and sometimes did not get them at all. Students and faculty members both worked together to come up with a viable alternative to the old system. The block scheduling system entails eight schedule variations of the four third-year core courses.
Students sign up for blocks of classes rather than individual courses.
There is some flexibility in the makeup of the blocks to allow for college courses and other desired electives. Block scheduling is not a new idea. Paula Dyal, assistant registrar at the Stanford School of Business, and Maria Macrise, director of the undergraduate business program at University of Western Ontario in Canada, both discussed their school's successful block scheduling that is similar to the Commerce School's new process, but allows for less flexibility. Block scheduling also is practiced at Harvard University, the University of Michigan and the University's graduate business school, the Darden School. The faculty decided unanimously to do this.