X-Hours or X-Periods

Every course regularly scheduled by the Registrar of Dartmouth College has, in addition to its regularly scheduled class times, a scheduled X-period.  This is one period each week reserved for that course in its regularly assigned classroom at a time different from the standard time scheduled for the course.  For courses that meet on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, the X-hour falls on Thursdays for a 50-minute period.  For courses scheduled on Tuesday-Thursday, the X-hour generally falls on a Monday or Wednesday for a 65-minute period.  See the Course Schedule Chart for specific details.

Instructors use X-hours in a varietty of ways.  Some use them as regularly scheduled classtime and expect students to come to class for every X-hour.  Others use them for discussion sections, special tutoring sessions, or make-up classes when regularly scheduled classes must be cancelled for any reason.

The important things to remember about X-hours are these:

1. Your regular classroom is reserved to your course for every X-hour
2. You should let students know in your syllabus and repeatedly over the first week of classes how you intend to use the X-hour for that course and how you expect  students to use that time.
3. If you will use X-hours for cancelled classes, please plan that in advance whenever possible and indicate that on your syllabus.