TO: Rick Peterson, Chair
Classroom Design and Advisory Committee

FROM: Robert Shelton, Provost

DATE: 1/21/02

SUBJECT: Charge to the Classroom Design and Advisory Committee (CDAC) to Review Classrooms for Inclusion in the General Classroom Pool

We are beginning an historic period of renovation and construction on campus. Given the extent of this effort, it is critical that we make the best use of all available classroom space. As was shown in the recent Paulien and Associates Space Study, the best way to ensure that space is available to as many departments as possible is to have it centrally scheduled by the Office of the University Registrar.

The study also recommended researching the usage of underutilized classrooms and the usage of rooms not currently identified as classrooms. Results of the research would help determine how best to allocate increasingly scarce classroom space.

More efficient use of available space will not only support a successful bond renovation program, but also enable us to avoid overbuilding classroom space, allowing funds to be directed to meet critical shortages in other areas (e.g., faculty research space).

I am charging the Classroom Design and Advisory Committee with the task and authority to review campus room usage as it relates to instruction and identify potential rooms that can be assigned to centralized control by the Office of the University Registrar.

The committee should look for a variety of types and sizes of rooms consistent with the needs identified in the Paulien study. The committee should review the present use of the rooms and be sensitive to specialized needs of departments. Part of the committee's responsibility is to evaluate these uses and determine if they represent the best use of the space for the University.

By April 1 2002, the CDAC should deliver a report to me of additional rooms that could be assigned to the University Registrar, centrally scheduled, and shared by other departments.