There are two types of University of Minnesota classrooms: General purpose classrooms and departmental classrooms. These classrooms are managed either by the Office of Classroom Management or by University Departments. Read below for more information about these two main room types, which is a selectable filter in Room search.
General purpose classrooms
General purpose classrooms (GPCs) are centrally-managed, funded, and scheduled by the Office of Classroom Management. General purpose classroom spaces use code 110 in the University Space Management System. You can use Room Search to find general purpose classrooms, or the Study Space tool to find a study space.
Active Learning Classrooms (ALC)
University of Minnesota Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) are designed to foster interactive, flexible, student-centered learning experiences. ALCs operate using central teaching stations and student-provided laptops.The presentation systems provided in active learning classrooms vary in the functions they provide.
All ALCs include:
- Student table displays that allow individual and group sharing
- Furniture that facilitates small-group work
- Alternate options for class structure, learning, and instruction
In Bruininks Hall ALCs:
- Centered teaching station, promoting interactive coaching during learning activities
- Accommodates between 27 and 126 individuals per classroom
- Ability to route student display video to all displays
To request a consultation on how to use the technology in your ALC, please email [email protected]
Requesting ALCs
Fourteen ALCs are available in the Robert H. Bruininks Hall for anyone to request during open scheduling. These classrooms can accommodate between 27 and 171 individuals and are able to flex into larger classrooms based on semester-to-semester demand. Use Room search to find and learn about active learning classrooms.
To learn how to incorporate active learning classroom technology while instructing, please see the Office of Classroom Management’s instructional technology support page or contact us as [email protected]. You can also learn more about the University’s ALCs in this tracking spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZdQawWYXWIelFsikhSQznWR945Shukq1SiwslbwVs7w/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Departmental classrooms
Departmental classrooms are individually-managed, supported, and scheduled by academic departments at the University of Minnesota. They are designed to meet the specific and more specialized needs of a given department or program. For example, studios, labs, and special use classrooms are considered departmental classrooms.
Many departmental classrooms are scheduled using Astra and use a separate Astra event request form for requesting classrooms. Each of the following have their own specific Astra event request form:
- Health Sciences (formally known as AHC)
- Carlson School of Management
- Dance: Barker & PC Gym only
- Law School Mondale Hall
- Theater: Rarig Only
- All other departmental rooms that accept Astra event requests
Finding contact information for departmental classrooms
If you have any comments or questions about a departmental classroom, contact the department that manages the classroom. You can also find who to contact on the Astra page.
If you need to have departmental room details edited, contact [email protected]
To find who to contact in Astra:
- Go to Astra for your campus.
- Click the resources tab.
- Click on Room link.
- Use the room number filter to find the classroom, or filter by building and room type.
- Find the room you want and hover over the index icon on the far left of the row.
- Contact information will appear in the description box.
Departmental classroom changes
If you need to have departmental room details edited or a new room created in Astra, contact [email protected]