Florida Gulf Coast University

Humanities—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 for faculty teaching the course and includes a 35% benefit 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 Florida Gulf Coast University and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

The cost savings resulting from the course redesign at Florida Gulf Coast University are attributable to two factors: changes made to the course itself and a model allowing for significant growth. First, the course redesign off-loads many labor-intensive activities to technology such as presenting content information and grading exams and essays, thus reducing the hours spent by full-time faculty from 950 to 300. FGCU will use an alternative staffing model that makes the best use of the time of personnel (the faculty, course coordinator, and preceptors) with differentiated roles. The total course delivery time decreases by over 400 hours while the number of students increases by 150. The result will be a 40% reduction in the cost-per-student from about $132 to $81 in the first full year of the redesign.

Second, while the student numbers only increase by 150 (from 800 to 950) in the course planning tool pictured below, FGCU anticipates that enrollments in this course will continue to grow. The model allows FGCU to continue to scale by adding preceptors while maintaining important faculty oversight via the course coordinator and on-going faculty curricular review. Had the institution responded to the growth demand by continuing to hire adjuncts and employ full-time faculty as shown in the traditional course design, the anticipated increase in student numbers would have become much more expensive and difficult to sustain. Thus part of FGCU's savings in subsequent years results from the opportunity cost of not having to accommodate growth in an unproductive manner because they will employ a redesign which permits the costs to increase at a much slower pace. The table that follows shows the savings projected as the enrollment grows over the next five years:

Comparison of Traditional Course and Redesigned Course over 5 years

[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—Humanities

Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Humanities

Step 3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Humanities

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Program in Course Redesign Quick Links:

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Lessons Learned:
Round 1...
Round II...
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Savings:
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Round II...
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