University of Dayton
Introductory Psychology—Course Planning Tool
The Course Planning Tool is a formatted spreadsheet that facilitates a three-step process for institutions to establish and compare the instructional costs before redesign (the traditional course) and the instructional costs after the redesign (the redesigned course).
Step #1 shows the calculation of all personnel costs associated with preparing and delivering the course expressed as an hourly rate. Annual salary for faculty listed is the average of all faculty teaching the course and includes a 33% benefits rate. Step #2 uses this initial calculation to determine the cost of preparing and delivering the traditional course. Step #3 calculates these costs for the redesigned course. More specific Course Planning Tool instructions are available.
Below are a summary of the cost savings anticipated at the University of Dayton and the completed course planning tool.
Cost Savings
The University of Dayton's course planning tool depicts the cost of a single section in one term, one of 12 sections taught annually. In the redesign, faculty staffing will be reduced by 50% as section size is doubled. Faculty time will be redirected from presenting content in weekly lectures to working interactively with students. Faculty time for preparation decreases from 114 hours to 77 and instructional hours increase from 37 to 63 with fewer hours designated for presentation (30 hours to 3 hours) but significantly greater interaction time with students (7 hours to 30). In addition TAs will provide an additional 80 hours of interaction time. The only face-to-face class time will occur during orientation, the final exam and at occasional featured presentations. Traditional student "seat time" will decrease by 90%, while the time students spend engaged in active learning will be radically increased. The cost-per-student will decline from $139 to $78, a 44% saving. The university will use the savings to staff upper division courses that it previously could not offer.
[For more detailed information regarding their initial academic redesign, consult the project plan description.]
Step #1: Determine Instructional Costs per Hour
Instructional Costs per Hour—Introductory Psychology
| Faculty | |
| Annual Salary and Benefits | $72,000 |
| % devoted to instruction | 75% |
| % devoted to this course | 17% |
| $ devoted to this course | $9,002 |
| Contact hours for course | 40 |
| Out of class hours | 144 |
| Total hours | 184 |
| Cost per hour | $49 |
| Graduate TAs/Gas | |
| Salary and Benefits | |
| % devoted to instruction | |
| % devoted to this course | |
| $ devoted to this course | |
| Contact hours for this course | |
| Out of class hours | |
| Total Hours | |
| Cost per hour | $22 |
| Undergraduate TAs | |
| Cost per hour | |
| Professional/Staff | $ per |
| Positions | Hour |
| Office support | $15 |
| Student Secretary | $8 |
Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course
Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Introductory Psychology
| Faculty | Student Secretary | Office Support | ||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $49 | Hourly rate = | $8 | Hourly rate = | $15 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 12 | $588 | ||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 8 | $392 | 30 | $240 | 42 | $630 |
| C. Materials Development | 12 | $588 | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 20 | $980 | ||||
| 2. Learning materials/software | 10 | $490 | ||||
| 3. Diagnostic Assessments | ||||||
| 4. Assignments | 23 | $1,127 | ||||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 25 | $1,225 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 110 | $5,390 | 30 | $240 | 42 | $630 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||
| 1. Orientation | ||||||
| 2. Staff meetings | 4 | $196 | ||||
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||||
| Sub-Total | 4 | $196 | ||||
| Total Preparation | 114 | $5,586 | 30 | $240 | 42 | $630 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||
| 1. Diagnoze skill/knowledge | ||||||
| 2. Presentation | 30 | $1,470 | ||||
| 3. Interaction | 7 | $343 | ||||
| 4. Progress Monitoring | ||||||
| Sub-Total | 37 | $1,813 | ||||
| B. Evaluation | ||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 3 | $147 | ||||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 30 | $1,470 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 33 | $1,617 | ||||
| Total Delivery | 70 | $3,430 | ||||
| TOTAL | 184 | $9,016 | 30 | $240 | 42 | $630 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $9,886 | |||||
| Total # of students | 71 | |||||
| Cost per student | $139 |
Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Introductory Psychology
| Faculty | TAs/GAs/PT Faculty | Office Support | ||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $49 | Hourly rate = | $22 | Hourly rate = | $15 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 10 | $490 | ||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 6 | $294 | ||||
| C. Materials Development | 8 | $392 | 25 | $375 | ||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 4 | $196 | ||||
| 2. Learning materials/software | 15 | $735 | ||||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | ||||||
| 4. Assignments | 6 | $294 | ||||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 10 | $490 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 59 | $2,891 | 25 | $375 | ||
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||
| 1. Orientation | 4 | $196 | ||||
| 2. Staff meetings | 6 | $294 | ||||
| 3. Attend lectures | 8 | $392 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 18 | $882 | ||||
| Total Preparation | 77 | $3,773 | 25 | $375 | ||
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | 10 | $490 | ||||
| 2. Presentation | 3 | $147 | ||||
| 3. Interaction (on-line/in person) | 30 | $1,470 | 80 | $1,760 | ||
| 4. Progress monitoring (on-line) | 20 | $980 | 40 | $880 | ||
| Sub-Total | 63 | $3,087 | 120 | $2,640 | ||
| B. Evaluation | ||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 18 | $396 | ||||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 30 | $1,470 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 30 | $1,470 | 18 | $396 | ||
| Total Delivery | 93 | $4,557 | 138 | $3,036 | ||
| TOTAL | 170 | $8,330 | 138 | $3,036 | 25 | $375 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $11,741 | |||||
| Total # of students | 150 | |||||
| Cost per student | $78 |
Program in Course Redesign Quick Links:
Program In Course Redesign Main Page...
Lessons Learned:
Round 1...
Round II...
Round III...
Savings:
Round I...
Round II...
Round III...
Project Descriptions:
Sorted by Discipline...
Sorted by Model...
Sorted by Success...
Sorted by Grant Rounds...
