Program in Course Redesign

Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis

Introduction to Sociology and English—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 35% 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 Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

In fall 1998, IUPUI offered Introduction to Sociology in two formats: large sections of approximately 200 students and small sections of approximately 35-45 students. IUPUI's course redesign involves treating multiple sections as one course and combining some, but not all, sections of Introduction to Sociology with Elementary Composition. The course-planning tool displays only the Introduction to Sociology course, since the costs of the Elementary Composition course remain the same. Costs for both large and small sections are shown.

Because the computer-based environment enables greater interaction among faculty and students within a large course environment, IUPUI plans to increase the number of large sections offered and decrease the number of small sections. This change will result in a 20% cost-per-student reduction, for a total cost savings of approximately $34,000. Additional savings are anticipated as a result of an improved student success rate.

[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—Introduction to Sociology

Faculty


  Large Section Small Section Adjunct
Annual Salary and Benefits $49,613 $53,400 $1,631
% devoted to instruction 75% 75% 100%
% devoted to this course 17% 17% 100%
$ devoted to this course $6,199 $6,672 $1,631
   
 
Contact hours for course 40 40 40
Out of class hours 263 194 192
Total hours 303 234 232
Cost per hour $20 $29 $7
   
 
Undergraduate TAs  
 
Cost per hour $7 
 
   
 
Professional Staff $ per
 
Position Hour
 

 

Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Sociology Course

  Faculty-Large Section TAs/GAs
Faculty-Small Section Adjuncts  
  # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost
  Hourly rate = $20 Hourly rate = $7 Hourly rate = $29 Hourly rate = $7
I. Course Preparation    

       
     

       
A. Curriculum Development    

       
B. Materials Acquisition    

       
C. Materials Development    

       
1. Lectures/presentations 30 $614

12 $342 12 $84
2. Learning materials/software 45 $921

12 $342 12 $84
3. Diagnostic assessments 6 $123

12 $342 12 $84
4. Assignments 6 $123

12 $342 12 $84
5. Tests/evaluations 18 $378

12 $342 12 $84
Sub-Total 105 $2,148

60 $1,710 60 $422
     

       
D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training    

       
1. Orientation 2 $41 4 $28 2 $57 2 $14
2. Staff meetings 2 $41 4 $28 2 $57    
3. Attend lectures     35 $245        
Sub-Total 4 $82 43 $301 4 $114 2 $14
Total Preparation 109 $2,230 43 $301 64 $1,825 62 $436
     

       
II. Course Delivery    

       
     

       
A. Instruction    

       
1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 10 $205

10 $285 10 $70
2. Presentation 40 $828

40 $1,140 40 $281
3. Interaction 30 $614 7 $49 10 $285 10 $70
4. Progress monitoring 10 $205

10 $285 10 $70
Sub-Total 90 $1,841 7 $49 70 $1,996 70 $492
     

       
B. Evaluation    

       
1. Test proctoring 4 $82 8 $56        
2. Tests/evaluation 100 $2,046 62 $434 100 $2,851 100 $711
Sub-Total 104 $2,128 70 $490 100 $2,851 100 $711
Total Delivery 192 $3,928 77 $539 168 $4,847 170 $1,195









Total per section 303 $6,199 120 $840 234 $6,671 232 $1,631
# of sections   4

  17   11
# of students per section   200

  40   40
TOTAL   $24,798
$3,360   $113,413   $17,941
     

       
GRAND TOTAL   $159,511

       
Total # of students   1,914

       
Cost per student   $83

       

 

Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Sociology Course

  Faculty, Large Section TAs/GAs
Faculty, Small Section Adjuncts  
  # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost
  Hourly rate = $20 Hourly rate = $7 Hourly rate = $29 Hourly rate = $7
I. Course Preparation  


       
   


       
A. Curriculum Development  


       
B. Materials Acquisition  


       
C. Materials Development  


       
1. Lectures/presentations 23 $460

9 $259 9 $63
2. Learning materials/software 34 $696

9 $259 9 $63
3. Diagnostic assessments 5 $92

9 $259 9 $63
4. Assignments 5 $92

9 $259 9 $63
5. Tests/evaluations 14 $276

9 $259 9 $63
Sub-Total 79 $1,616

45 $1,297 45 $316
   


       
D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training  


       
1. Orientation 2 $41 4 $28 2 $58 2 $14
2. Staff meetings 2 $41 4 $28 2 $58    
3. Attend lectures 2 $41 35 $245  2 $57  1 $7
Sub-Total 6 $123 43 $301 6 $171 3 $23
Total Preparation 85 $1,739 43 $301 53 $1,505 48 $336
   


       
II. Course Delivery  


       
   


       
A. Instruction  


       
1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 10 $205

10 $285 10 $70
2. Presentation 40 $818

40 $1,140 40 $281
3. Interaction 36 $737 7 $49 12 $342 12 $84
4. Progress monitoring 10 $194

10 $271 10 $67
Sub-Total 96 $1,964 7 $49 72 $2,053 72 $503
   


       
B. Evaluation  


       
1. Test proctoring 4 $82 8 $56        
2. Tests/evaluation 90 $1,841 14 $98 90 $2,566 90 $633
Sub-Total 94 $1,923 22 $154 90 $2,566 90 $633
Total Delivery 192 $3,928 29 $203 162 $4,619 159 $1,139
   


       
TOTAL per section 277 $5,667 72 $504 215 $6,130 210 $1,476
# of sections
6

  13   11
# of students per section
200

  35   35
TOTAL COST of sections
$34,005
$3,024   $79,685   $16,239









GRAND TOTAL
 $132,953

       
Total # of students    2,000

       
Cost per student
$66


     

Back

 

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...