#
"Limit search to list": If "Limit search to list" is checked within a scheduling preference box, Astra Schedule will consider the chosen preferences as the only viable options, making the preferences "hard constraints". If the Optimizer cannot place the selected section in a room with those preferences, the section will become "Impossible to Place".
A
Arranged Section: A section that does not have a meeting time, date or day assigned to it yet. Therefore, it cannot be scheduled.
C
Cost: A score associated with a room which is used with the Available Rooms Tool and the Optimizer. Cost is a combination of all preferences selected for the section and the percentage of seats filled. The lower the cost for the room, the better the match for the section.
Cross-listed section: A section that meets in the same room at the same time with one or more other sections.
D
Declined event: An event that has been declined by the event scheduler.
E
Event Cutoff Date: Administrator-configured date after which events CANNOT be scheduled. Your academic scheduler will then reopen scheduling after all academic sections have been scheduled.
Exception: One or more meetings of a section that vary from a repeating meeting pattern. An exception meets in a different room, meets at a different time, or doesn’t meet at all.
F
Feature: A permanent feature of a classroom (e.g. sink, LCD projector, maps, etc.).
H
Hard constraint: A room feature preference that is weighted at 10 or a region, building or room preference that is marked "Limit Search to List."
M
Meeting type: Defines the type of class being held (e.g. lab, lecture, independent study, etc).
Multiple configuration: A room type associated with rooms whose layout can change to accommodate multiple seating arrangements.
N
Normal Seats: The actual capacity of a room. The Optimizer or Available Rooms Tool, when placing sections, does not use this number.
O
Optimizer: Astra Schedule’s bulk scheduler that places sections by optimizing seat fill and user preferences.
P
Preferences: Preferred room type, features, regions, buildings and rooms for sections, instructors, subjects, or meeting types.
Priorities: Scheduling Priorities refer to seat fill and preferences when running the Optimizer. Percentages of importance for scheduling priorities can be reconfigured for each Optimizer run.
R
Region: A user-defined group of buildings and/or rooms that can be defined for scheduling preferences or security reasons.
Rejected event: An event that cannot be scheduled because the customer's insurance or contract information has expired.
Requested event: An event that is pending the scheduler’s approval.
Resource: Any equipment that may be used for sections or events and can be moved from one place to another. Also includes catering services and menus.
Room type: A room description that defines room usage (e.g., biology lab, art studio, auditorium.)
S
Seats: The total number of students you are willing to place in a room. This number can be greater than or equal to the actual capacity (seats) of the room to cover potential openings. This number is what the Optimizer and Available Rooms tool will use to place sections
Section cluster: A section that has multiple meeting patterns.
Standard week: Defines days/hours of any given week when a campus is in use so that Astra Schedule.
Subject: A group of courses that share one offering code (e.g., ENGL).
T
Tentative event: An event with no room assignments or requests.
U
User fields: Optional, user-defined fields which may be used to store any information beyond what is typically tracked in Astra Schedule.
W
Weight: A number assignment on preferences that defines the importance the algorithm places on the preference. Note: Leaving the value at 0 is the same as not selecting the item at all.