Fairfield University
General Biology—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 39% 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 Fairfield University and the completed course planning tool.
Cost Savings
Cost savings in the redesign of General Biology will result from combining all students into one large section in a single large classroom, reducing the number of faculty teaching the course. The use of the BioQUEST software library and other online resources and interactive learning experiences in place of many faculty lectures will further reduce faculty preparation time. The number of faculty needed to teach the course will decline from 7 to 4 annually. Faculty time will be reconfigured to support a division of teaching responsibilities so that the four faculty members can each teach from his/her area of expertise. Overall faculty time devoted to this course will decrease from 1550 hours to 1063 hours. In addition, one-half of the labs will be virtual, generating a significant savings in lab expenses as well as in set-up and clean-up time for the professionals.
Consolidating lecture sections and introducing computer-based modules in the lecture and laboratory will result in a planned cost-per-student reduction from $506 to $350, a savings of 31% with a slight increase in the number of students served. The savings will allow faculty members to teach needed upper division biology courses at Fairfield.
[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—General Biology
| Faculty | |
| Annual salary and benefits | $79,352 |
| % devoted to instruction | 67% |
| % devoted to this course | 33% |
| $ devoted to this course | $17,545 |
| Contact hours in Classroom | 75 |
| Out of class hours | 172 |
| Total hours | 247 |
| Cost per hour | $71 |
| 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 | |
| Undergraduate TAs | |
| Cost per hour | |
| Professional/Staff | $ per |
| Positions | Hour |
| #1 Laboratory Supervisor/Instructor | $20 |
Step #2: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course
Instructional Costs of Traditional Course—General Biology
| Faculty | Professional Staff | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $71 | Hourly rate = | $20 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 30 | $2,130 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 30 | $2,130 | 72 | $1,440 |
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 333 | $23,643 | 96 | $1,920 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | ||||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | ||||
| 4. Assignments | 36 | $2,556 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 42 | $2,982 | ||
| Sub-Total | 471 | $33,441 | 168 | $3,360 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation | ||||
| 2. Meetings | 158 | $11,218 | 96 | $1,920 |
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||
| Sub-Total | 158 | $11,218 | 96 | $1,920 |
| Total Preparation | 629 | $44,659 | 264 | $5,280 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||
| 2. Presentation | 453 | $32,163 | 288 | $5,760 |
| 3. Interaction | 196 | $13,916 | ||
| 4. Progress monitoring | ||||
| Sub-Total | 649 | $46,079 | 288 | $5,760 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 42 | $2,982 | ||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 230 | $16,330 | 176 | $3,520 |
| Sub-Total | 272 | $19,312 | 176 | $3,520 |
| Total Delivery | 921 | $65,391 | 464 | $9,280 |
| TOTAL | 1550 | $110,050 | 728 | $14,560 |
| Laboratory Supplies | $7,000 | |||
| GRAND TOTAL | $131,610 | |||
| Total # of students | 260 | |||
| Cost per student | $506 |
Step #3: Determine Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—General Biology
| Faculty | Professional Staff | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $71 | Hourly rate = | $20 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 30 | $2,130 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | 30 | $2,130 | 48 | $960 |
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 102 | $7,242 | 54 | $1,080 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | 61 | $4,331 | 45 | $900 |
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | ||||
| 4. Assignments | 45 | $3,195 | 45 | $900 |
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 68 | $4,828 | 36 | $720 |
| Sub-Total | 336 | $23,856 | 228 | $4,560 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation | ||||
| 2. Meetings | 54 | $3,834 | 54 | $1,080 |
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||
| Sub-Total | 54 | $3,834 | 54 | $1,080 |
| Total Preparation | 390 | $27,690 | 282 | $5,640 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||
| 2. Presentation | 192 | $13,632 | 216 | $4,320 |
| 3. Interaction | 112 | $7,952 | ||
| 4. Progress monitoring | 112 | $7,952 | ||
| Sub-Total | 416 | $29,536 | 216 | $4,320 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 12 | $852 | ||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 245 | $17,395 | 225 | $4,500 |
| Sub-Total | 257 | $18,247 | 225 | $4,500 |
| Total Delivery | 673 | $47,783 | 441 | $8,820 |
| TOTAL | 1063 | $75,473 | 723 | $14,460 |
| Special Supplies/Software | $8,100 | |||
| GRAND TOTAL | $98,033 | |||
| Total # of students | 280 | |||
| Cost per student | $350 |
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:
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