Program in Course Redesign

Northern Arizona University

College Algebra—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 25% 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 Northern Arizona University and the completed course planning tool.

Cost Savings

To achieve their 47% savings, Northern Arizona University is reducing faculty lectures and associated preparation and delivery from 840 to 114 hours. These 114 hours are primarily spent working with the TAs and other personnel who will assist students when they have a particular problem. Modeled on the Virginia Tech math emporium, the NAU project will also implement existing software, reducing development time. Other personnel (TAs, lab aides and tutors) will target their time to assisting students; no hours are included in the redesign plan to prepare or deliver lectures.

The course redesign will result in annual savings of approximately $60,000. The cost-per-student decreases 47%, from $138 to $73. Northern Arizona University’s cost savings will stay in the department of mathematics and will be reinvested to fund the redesign of other math courses.

[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—College Algebra

Faculty


Salary and Benefits $50,000
% devoted to instruction 60%
% devoted to this course 17%
$ devoted to this course $5,100


Contact hours for course 40
Out of class hours 80
Total hours 120
Cost per hour $43


TAs/GAs


Salary and Benefits $15,600
% devoted to instruction 100%
% devoted to this course 33%
$ devoted to this course $5,148


Contact hours for course 40
Out of class hours 106
Total hours 146
Cost per hour $35


Support Staff Position $ per Hour


Computer Technician $24
Laboratory Aides $8
Student Tutors $7

Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course

Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—College Algebra


 Faculty TAs/GAs Faculty Coordinator

# of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost

Hourly rate = $43 Hourly rate = $35 Hourly rate = $43
I. Course Preparation












A. Curriculum Development





B. Materials Acquisition





C. Materials Development





1. Lectures/presentations 210 $8,925 540 $19,041

2. Learning materials/software





3. Diagnostic assessments





4. Assignments 35 $1,488 90 $3,173

5. Tests/evaluations 84 $3,570 216 $7,616

Sub-Total 329 $13,983 846 $29,830








D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training





1. Orientation

44 $1,551 16 $680
2. Staff meetings

220 $7,757 60 $2,550
3. Attend lectures

22 $776 44 $1,870
Sub-Total

286 $10,084 120 $5,100
Total Preparation 329 $13,983 1,132 $39,915 120 $5,100







II. Course Delivery












A. Instruction





1. Diagnose skill/knowledge 7 $298 18 $635

2. Presentation 182 $7,735 468 $16,502
  
3. Interaction 70 $2,975 180 $6,347

4. Progress monitoring 21 $893 54 $1,904

Sub-Total 280 $11,900 720 $25,387








B. Evaluation





1. Test proctoring 56 $2,380 144 $5,077

2. Tests/evaluation 175 $7,438 450 $15,867

Sub-Total 231 $9,818 594 $20,945

Total Delivery 511 $21,718 1,314 $46,332








TOTAL 840 $35,700 2,446 $86,247








GRAND TOTAL
$127,047



Total # of students
920



Cost per student
$138



Step 3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course

Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—College Algebra


 Faculty TAs/GAs Lab Aides Tutors

# of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost # of Hours Total Cost

Hourly rate = $43 Hourly rate = $35 Hourly rate = $8 Hourly rate = $7
I. Course Preparation
















A. Curriculum Development







B. Materials Acquisition







C. Materials Development







1. Lectures/presentations







2. Learning materials/software







3. Diagnostic assessments







4. Assignments







5. Tests/evaluations







Sub-Total
















D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training







1. Orientation 4 $170 24 $846 8 $64

2. Staff meetings 24 $1,020 144 $5,77 48 $384

3. Attend lectures 86 $3,655





Sub-Total 114 $4,845 168 $5,924 56 $448

Total Preparation 114 $4,845 168 $5,924 56 $448










II. Course Delivery
















A. Instruction







1. Diagnose skill/knowledge

46 $1,622

 
 
2. Presentation





 
 
3. Interaction

925 $32,616 300 $2,400 684 $4,788
4. Progress monitoring

139 $4,901 60 $480

Sub-Total

1,100 $39,139 360 $2,880 684 $4,788









B. Evaluation







1. Test proctoring

96 $3,385



2. Tests/evaluation

30 $1,058



Sub-Total

126 $4,443



Total Delivery

1,236 $43,582 360 $2,880 684 $4,788









TOTAL 114 $4,845 1,404 $49,505 416 $3,328 684 $4,788









Sub-Total for Personnel
$62,466





System Analyst
$4,992





GRAND TOTAL
$67,458





Total # of students
920





Cost per student
$73





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