University at Buffalo (SUNY)
Computer Literacy—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 29% 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 State University of New York at Buffalo and the completed course planning tool.
Cost Savings
In the redesign, enrollment remains constant and the combined faculty time devoted to the course is reduced from 723 hours to 464. Temporary faculty are no longer needed, reducing costs further, since their hourly rate is higher ($62) than the hourly rate of lecturers ($35). In addition, the redesign employs ULAs ($8 per hour) instead of GTAs ($39 per hour) to provide assistance to students in labs as needed and with increased flexibility. Faculty lectures decrease from three to two, reducing the preparation needed for formal presentations. This redesign plan will result in a 54% cost reduction in the cost-per-student (from $248 to $114).
[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—Computer Literacy
| Faculty | Lecturer | Temporary |
| Faculty | ||
| Annual Salary and Benefits | $55,769 | $11,565 |
| % devoted to instruction/support | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| % devoted to this course |
33.3% |
100.0% |
| $ devoted to this course | $18,590 | $11,565 |
| Contact hours for course | 131 | 66 |
| Out of class hours | 403 | 123 |
| Total hours | 534 | 189 |
| Cost per hour | $35 | $61 |
| Graduate TAs/GAs | ||
| Annual Salary and Benefits | $19,544 | |
| % devoted to instruction | 100% | |
| % devoted to this course | 50% | |
| $ devoted to this course | $9,772 | |
| Contact hours for course | 189 | |
| Out of class hours | 64 | |
| Total Hours | 253 | |
| Cost per hour | $39 | |
| Undergraduate TAs | ||
| Cost per hour | $8 | |
| Professional/Staff | $ per | |
| Positions | Hour | |
| Tech Support | $7 | |
| UG lab staff | $7 | |
| #1 | $50 | |
| #2 | $35 | |
| #3 | $35 | |
| #4 New Staff | $30 |
Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs per Hour
Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—Computer Literacy
| Lecturer | 2 | Temp. Fac. | GAs | Undergrad Support | ||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate= | $35 | Hourly rate= | $61 | Hourly rate= | $39 | Hourly rate= | $7 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 16 | $557 | ||||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 45 | $1,567 | ||||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 45 | $1,567 | 45 | $2,754 | ||||
| 2. Learning materials/software | 45 | $1,567 | ||||||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | 5 | $174 | ||||||
| 4. Assignments | 55 | $1,915 | ||||||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 49 | $1,706 | 23 | $1,407 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 260 | $9,051 | 68 | $4,161 | ||||
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||||
| 1. Orientation | 5 | $174 | 5 | $306 | 35 | $1,351 | ||
| 2. Staff meetings | 25 | $870 | 5 | $306 | 105 | $4,053 | ||
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||||||
| Sub-Total | 30 | $1,044 | 10 | $612 | 140 | $5,404 | ||
| Total Preparation | 290 | $10,096 | 78 | $4,773 | 140 | $5,404 | ||
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||||||
| 2. Presentation | 86 | $2,994 | 43 | $2,631 | 540 | $20,844 | ||
| 3. Interaction | 45 | $1,567 | 23 | $1,407 | 665 | $25,669 | 1589 | $10,924 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | 20 | $696 | 10 | $612 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 151 | $5,257 | 76 | $4,650 | 1205 | $46,513 | 1589 | $10,924 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 17 | $592 | 10 | $612 | 119 | $4,593 | ||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 76 | $2,646 | 25 | $1,530 | 308 | $11,889 | ||
| Sub-Total | 93 | $3,238 | 35 | $2,142 | 427 | $16,482 | ||
| Total Delivery | 244 | $8,494 | 111 | $6,792 | 1632 | $62,995 | 1589 | $10,924 |
| TOTAL | 534 | $18,590 | 189 | $11,565 | 1772 | $68,399 | 1589 | $10,924 |
| Staff #1 | 186 | $9,350 | ||||||
| Staff #2 | 39 | $1,379 | ||||||
| Staff #3 | 39 | $1,352 | ||||||
| GRAND TOTAL | $121,559 | |||||||
| Total # of students | 490 | |||||||
| Cost per student | $248 |
Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Redesign A—Computer Literacy
| Lecturer | Undergrad TAs | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate= | $35 | Hourly rate= | $8 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 16 | $557 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 45 | $1,567 | ||
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 30 | $1,044 | 315 | $2,520 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | 45 | $1,567 | ||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | 5 | $174 | ||
| 4. Assignments | 55 | $1,915 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 34 | $1,184 | ||
| Sub-Total | 230 | $8,007 | 315 | $2,520 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation | 10 | $348 | 210 | $1,680 |
| 2. Staff meetings | 25 | $870 | 315 | $2,520 |
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||
| Sub-Total | 35 | $1,218 | 525 | $4,200 |
| Total Preparation | 265 | $9,225 | 840 | $6,720 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | 15 | $522 | ||
| 2. Presentation | 90 | $3,133 | 1490 | $11,920 |
| 3. Interaction | 45 | $1,567 | 420 | $3,360 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | 10 | $348 | ||
| Sub-Total | 160 | $5,570 | 1910 | $15,280 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 3 | $104 | 420 | $3,360 |
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 36 | $1,253 | ||
| Sub-Total | 39 | $1,358 | 420 | $3,360 |
| Total Delivery | 199 | $6,928 | 2330 | $18,640 |
| TOTAL | 464 | $16,153 | 3170 | $25,360 |
| Undergraduate Administration | 600 | $4,800 | ||
| Staff #1 | 46 | $2,312 | ||
| Staff #4 | 240 | $7,229 | ||
| GRAND TOTAL | $55,854 | |||
| Total # of students | 490 | |||
| Cost per student | $114 |
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Redesign B—Computer Literacy
| Lecturer | Undergrad TAs | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $35 | Hourly rate = | $8 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 16 | $557 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 45 | $1,567 | ||
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 30 | $1,044 | 435 | $3,480 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | 45 | $1,567 | ||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | 5 | $174 | ||
| 4. Assignments | 55 | $1,915 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 34 | $1,184 | ||
| Sub-Total | 230 | $8,007 | 435 | $3,480 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation | 10 | $348 | 290 | $2,320 |
| 2. Staff meetings | 25 | $870 | 435 | $3,480 |
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||
| Sub-Total | 35 | $1,218 | 725 | $5,800 |
| Total Preparation | 265 | $9,225 | 1160 | $9,280 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | 15 | $522 | ||
| 2. Presentation | 90 | $3,133 | 2024 | $16,192 |
| 3. Interaction | 45 | $1,567 | 570 | $4,560 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | 10 | $348 | ||
| Sub-Total | 160 | $5,570 | 2594 | $20,752 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 3 | $104 | 569 | $4,552 |
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 49 | $1,706 | ||
| Sub-Total | 52 | $1,810 | 569 | $4,552 |
| Total Delivery | 212 | $7,380 | 3163 | $25,304 |
| TOTAL | 477 | $16,606 | 4323 | $34,584 |
| Undergraduate Administration | 600 | $4,800 | ||
| Staff #1 | 46 | $2,313 | ||
| Staff #4 | 240 | $7,229 | ||
| GRAND TOTAL | $65,532 | |||
| Total # of students | 665 | |||
| Cost per student | $99 |
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...
