Your Monthly Guide to Smarter Scheduling
February 2026
We ♥ Scheduling!
Welcome to the February edition of the Classroom Logistics, Events, and Academics Newsletter! As we settle into the rhythm of the spring term, this issue brings timely updates to support your planning, from key dates and deadlines in the academic scheduling cycle to practical reminders and resources that help keep classes and events running smoothly. Whether you’re finalizing midterm exam needs, reviewing instructional space preferences, or coordinating classroom logistics across campus, we’re here to help keep your semester on track.
If you are not receiving the newsletter by email but would like to, please contact classrooms@uiowa.edu to be added.
Highlights
- Dates and Deadlines
- MAUI Planner is Open for Editing
- Final Exams and Faculty Review
- MAUI Planner Replication
- Course Sections (Comprehensive-Proof Copy) Report
- MAUI Exams by Session and Type with Conflicts Report
- New UCC University Classrooms
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
Refer to the Classroom Scheduling Task List for more dates and details on monthly recurring tasks, organized according to the course and event scheduling timeline, along with helpful resources to support your work.
Spring 2026
- 2/6-2/15/26
Final Exam Schedule Faculty Review Period - 2/16/26
Final Exam Schedule Published - 3/15-3/22/26
Spring Break
Summer 2026
- 3/1/26
Summer event requests open for submission (confirmations will begin on Apr. 1) - 3/9-3/13/26
Early registration
Fall 2026
- 1/26/26-2/8/26
Planner review period - 2/9/26
Evening Midterm Exam Needs tool opens - 2/9/26
MyUI Course Offerings Available/Schedule Builder Opens
Spring 2027
- 2/2/26-6/22/26
Planner open to departments
Policy and Procedure Spotlight
MAUI Planner Open for Editing
Academic department administrators (ADAs) are responsible for submitting section offerings during the MAUI Planner editing period. Spring 2027 is open for editing on Monday, Feb. 2 and closes at midnight on Monday, June 22.
Some tips to assist Classroom Scheduling and minimize issues with initial scheduling of university classroom (UCR) assignments:
- Follow the Standardized Time-Block Model for planning meeting times/days for UCR requests.
- Use the section room preference field to let us know of any details, special circumstances, or preferred rooms to help us in assigning UCRs.
- If requesting the same room for one or more sections that are taught back-to-back, the instructor name should be entered prior to the deadline of June 22 for initial scheduling.
- Opt enrollment can never exceed the room capacity in any circumstance in a UCR. If you have TAs or other guests that need to attend the class, planning for them using room capacity is essential. The opt enrollment should reflect the number of students expected to enroll in the section, then add a note in the room preferences field to let us know the room capacity that is needed if its larger than the opt enrollment.
Final Exam Faculty Review Period
The final exam faculty review period will begin on Friday, Feb. 6 until Wednesday, Feb. 11. The faculty review period allows primary instructors or ADAs to request changes to their tentative final exam assignments. Changes include:
- A date, time, duration, and/or university classroom assigned for a course section is no longer needed; or
- A date, time, duration, and/or university classroom assignment has not been requested for a course section which needs one.
Classroom Scheduling makes every effort to meet instructors’ final exam assignment requests. However, some requests can not be granted due to excessive student conflicts or limited classroom availability. New requests are accommodates as resources and conflict minimization allow.
Changes can be requested using the Final Exam Assignment Change Request Form.
Requests Made After Publication
Requests made after the official schedule is published will require written approval from the chair/DEO and the dean of the department. All requests must include curricular justification.
Scheduling Insights
MAUI Planner Replication
When a new term is created in MAUI Planner by replication, using spring 2027 as an example, sections that had a Planner status of Approved for spring 2026 were replicated to create spring 2027 section offerings. If sections had a Planner status of Cancelled or Planning, they did not replicate. Also, the following never replicate: university classroom (UCR) assignments, room preferences, textbooks and resources, syllabus, instructors (except for independent study sections), expired scheduling exceptions, and midterm exam section information.
If a section did not replicate and you want to offer it for spring 2027, you can create the section manually or copy the section from a previous semester. For more information and detailed instructions in MAUI Help; see Course Section Replication and Section Creation & Section Set-up.
Reports and Reminders
REPORTS:0101
This is a complete list of all course sections, much like the Proof Copy. It includes course numbers, admin home, enrollment counts, instructors, credit hours, meeting patterns and more. Select the session, college, and the department(s) to view. Filter as needed by section type, management type, etc. Note the data is one day off; any changes made the current day in MAUI will show the next day in this report.
This report helps Classroom Scheduling check for consistency of offerings, off-cycle dates and compliance, meeting patterns, and other details for each section. It assists with planning and initial scheduling for a new term with a quick view of room preference notes, delivery mode and management type, as well as opt enrollment versus room capacity.
REPORTS:0102
The MAUI Exams by Session and Type with Conflicts report is a Data Warehouse report that provides a list of exams between the selected times of day for session and exam type chosen. Users are able to view direct conflicts for students with other exams or courses based on current enrollments. This report only displays direct conflict information and does not display conflicts for more than two exams in one day.
This report can help instructors understand how many students have direct conflicts with evening midterm exams throughout the semester, allowing them to plan make-up exams accordingly.
Facilities & Tech Updates
University Capitol Centre
Two new university classrooms came online this spring in the University Capitol Centre (Old Capitol Mall), located in the International Programs hallway. Both classrooms are multipurpose classrooms and include a larger room with tables and chairs and a smaller classroom with tablet arm chairs.
The Dean's List
Classroom Scheduling is Hiring!
Classroom Scheduling is currently seeking a new Course Offering and Scheduling Coordinator. The job listing is now available on Jobs@Uiowa. Please reach out to anyone on our team if you have any questions or would like additional information!
Pet of the Month
Meet February’s Pet of the Month: Willa! Willa is a multi-talented professional whose primary responsibility is supervising her employee, Char, and making sure all scheduling deadlines are met (with minimal slacking). She’s definitely a micromanager, but she’s so cute that no one even dares to complain.
Do you have topic requests for future newsletters?
We would love to hear your suggestions!