Course Enrollment Management Policy

Purpose

McNeese State University plans academic course scheduling according to projected enrollment and optimization of faculty resources. This policy serves as a guideline for planning the course schedule. Courses should be scheduled to ensure maximum enrollment, student accessibility, and progress toward degree completion.

Course Section Enrollment Thresholds

Class sections with enrollments lower than the thresholds below shall be canceled unless extenuating circumstances call for an exception, which must be approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs prior to the start of the semester.

Traditional, Face-to-Face Courses

For an undergraduate class to be offered, at least 10 students must be enrolled if the course is offered as a single section. If multiple sections of a face-to-face course are offered, each section must have at least 30 students enrolled, with the final section enrolling at least 10 students.

For a graduate class to be offered, at least five (5) students must be enrolled if the course is offered as a single section. If multiple sections of a face-to-face course are offered, each section must have at least 15 students enrolled, with the final section enrolling at least five students.

Online Courses

Online course enrollment should be at least 40 students if a single section is offered. If multiple sections of an online course are offered, each section must have at least 40 students enrolled, with the final section enrolling at least 10 students.

Exceptions for Course Enrollments Below Thresholds

The following list of exceptions, not considered an inclusive list, may justify allowing a course with a smaller enrollment to be taught:

• The class contains one or more seniors who can complete degree requirements in the term and no other courses meet the degree completion requirements;
• The class contains one or more students who need the class to graduate in the term or the next term and the course is not being offered before the scheduled graduation date;
• A laboratory class may be allowed if it is not required to be taken with the lecture and the lecture class meets all enrollment guidelines but the laboratory does not;
• The class is offered to students in a co-op program or internship course that is not applied to the teaching workload; or may be prorated for the teaching workload; or
• The class is being taught for no pay or prorated pay.

Other justifications may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Communication 

This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.