Designing a Course Schedule to Fit Standard Time Blocks

Scheduling courses can be one of the most complex administrative tasks in higher education—especially when programs have unique requirements that don’t align neatly with standard time blocks. At the English Language Institute (ELI), Designated School Official Kirsten MacQuillin faced this challenge head-on and turned to AI for a solution. 

The Challenge 

ELI’s non-credit Intensive English Program requires 18 instructional hours across four courses. Historically, its schedule didn’t fit the University of Utah’s standard time blocks, making coordination with campus partners and room scheduling difficult. 

The AI Approach 

Using iterative prompts, Kirsten leveraged AI to redesign the entire class schedule. The process allowed her to: 

• Rapidly generate multiple schedule versions 

• Refine class times and course sequences 

• Ensure accuracy and compliance with instructional-hour requirements 

What would have taken substantially longer manually was completed with minimal effort, thanks to AI’s ability to accelerate complex administrative tasks. 

The Outcome 

The result was a compliant, fully updated course schedule aligned with university standards. This project demonstrates how AI can serve as a practical, everyday operations partner—not replacing decision-making but enhancing efficiency and freeing staff to focus on higher-level priorities. 

Why It Matters 

For ELI students, instructors, and staff, this improvement means smoother scheduling and better integration with campus systems. For the university, it highlights how AI can streamline administrative processes while maintaining accuracy and compliance. 

For more information, connect with Kirsten by email: Kirsten.Macquillin@utah.edu