Optimizing a Law School’s Course Schedule

Abstract

Just like other educational institutions, law schools must schedule courses by taking into consideration student needs, faculty resources, and logistical support such as classroom size and equipment needs. In order to give assistance to those academics involved for the first time in the scheduling process, this article discusses the law school scheduling process and how a scheduling software package has worked to successfully automate what has been seen as one of the most abysmal administrative tasks of an Associate Dean. The article begins by providing a background to course scheduling at a typical law school. Then Professors Saxer and Thompson present a review of the tools for, and literature on, course scheduling, followed by a discussion of how technology can be applied to course scheduling in general, and their outcomes of applying this technology in a law school environment.

Keywords: universities, law schools, scheduling, courses

JEL Classification: K49