Office of the FAS Registrar
Academic Planning: Classrooms Office
Richard A. & Susan F. Smith Campus Center
1350 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 450
Cambridge, MA 02138
classrooms@fas.harvard.edu
617-495-1541
registrar.fas.harvard.edu
Classroom assignments for courses are coordinated between academic departments and scheduling offices.
Instructors should immediately contact their department if the meeting time changes from the published course listing in my.harvard or when a change in location occurs after the initial classroom assignment has been determined.
Course meeting times and locations are published in my.harvard, and on course Canvas websites.
To request audio-visual equipment or classroom service help, instructors should contact Educational Support Services at ess@fas.harvard.edu.
After-hour emergencies and problems with the temperature or ventilation of classrooms should be referred to the University Operations Center (617-495-5560). Classroom maintenance or repair requests should be directed to your Department Administrator, to Harvard Yard Operations (617-495-8842), or to the appropriate Building Manager.
Course Classroom Assignments
The FAS Classrooms Office schedules about one-third of the classrooms in the FAS room inventory. The remaining classrooms are scheduled by individual departments, centers, and houses.
Initial classroom assignments by the FAS Classrooms Office are made after considering a number of factors including instructional requirements, enrollment information, accessibility, special circumstances, and room availability at the time of assignment. Faculty members requesting classroom space scheduled by the FAS Classrooms Office should communicate their classroom needs for their courses and course-related events to the appropriate Department staff member, who will compile and submit room requests to the FAS Classrooms Office in July (for the fall term) and October (for the spring term). Department Administrators and/or Course Coordinators should enter classroom preferences in EMS (the software used to maintain room scheduling in FAS) by the necessary deadlines. The Classrooms Office will evaluate preferences and supply tentative assignments to each department. Once the department has reviewed the assignments, classroom assignments will be sent to instructors.
Assigned classrooms for courses and section meetings are reserved from the first day of the term through the last day of the term. Courses and section meetings will NOT be scheduled through the Reading Period, unless requested by teaching staff via FAS RoomBook. During the Examination Period, all classrooms are reserved for Final Exams. Classrooms are not reserved during University holidays and recesses.
Classroom Reassignment
The FAS Classrooms Office typically does not reassign classrooms until after the start of the term, when initial enrollment figures are more accurate. However, if there seems to be an urgent need to change room assignments, contact the FAS Classrooms Office immediately (classrooms@fas.harvard.edu). As a reminder, room assignments are subject to change due to enrollment numbers or other pedagogical needs.
Discussion Sections
Fall 2023: Instructors should direct their Head Teaching Fellows to the FAS Registrar’s website to review procedures for requesting section space. Classrooms for discussion sections are reserved on a first come, first served basis and are requested via FAS RoomBook.
During prior term registration departments can submit room preferences for discussion section/s to the Registrar ahead of the start of term, in addition to the room preference for the lecture. Students enrolled in the placeholder section must be moved into timed, capped sections in my.harvard by the Classroom Preferences deadline ahead of the term to be assigned rooms.
Reading Period
If instructors would like to hold class during the Reading Period, they must reserve a classroom via FAS RoomBook as their course will not be scheduled after the last day of classes for that term.
Examination Period
During the Final Examination Period, all classrooms are reserved for the FAS Exams Office. After the final examination schedule is set, limited classroom space may become available for review sessions.
Non-Course Events
The FAS Classrooms Office does not book rooms within its purview for non-course events until official course meeting locations have been finalized, usually within two weeks of the start of term.
The following documents and links are posted to the FAS Registrar's Office website:
FAS Classroom Inventory Discussion Sections