Course Enrollment Management Policy

McNeese State University plans course scheduling according to projected enrollment and seeks to optimize faculty resources throughout the course offerings. This policy serves as a guideline for planning the course schedule. Courses should be scheduled in order to ensure maximum enrollment and student accessibility.

In order for an undergraduate class to be offered, at least 10 students must be enrolled in a single section of a course. At least 30 students must be enrolled in a single section of a course before creating an additional section. 

In order for a graduate class to be offered, at least 5 students must be enrolled in a single section of a course. At least 15 students must be enrolled in a single section of a course before creating an additional section.

Classes with smaller enrollments than the above limits shall be canceled unless exceptions are approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management.

Online course enrollment should be at least 30 students unless otherwise approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management.

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;
• 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;
• The class is offered in an “alternate semester” or “alternate year” schedule;
• 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;
• Students enrolled in the class pay enough tuition to cover the cost of instruction; or
• The class is being taught for no pay.

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

Communication 

This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.