The Ohio State University
Introductory Statistical Concepts—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 22% 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 Ohio State University and the completed course planning tool.
Cost Savings
In the traditional format, Ohio State University is serving on-campus students as well as students studying independently off-campus. Below two spreadsheets represent the traditional course in the two formats: 1) face-to-face with a lecture-lab component and 2) self-paced or independent study. The third spreadsheet depicts the anticipated redesign. After the redesign, all students will have the same buffet model, offering the variety of learning experiences described in the full project plan.
The savings from the course redesign at Ohio State result from several sources. First there are fewer faculty lecture hours, a decrease from 800 to 320, primarily in the area of preparation. In addition greater assessment and administration is done via technology, allowing the TAs to move to greater interaction with students. OSU anticipates that the modularization of content will permit greater ultimate completions, providing further savings.
Overall, the cost per student declines from a weighted average of $190 to $132, a 31% decrease. With the increased retention, the annual total savings is anticipated to exceed $194,000. These savings will remain in the Statistics Department and be used to decrease the faculty load that, after review of peer institutions, was found to be too high to foster the level of excellence of research desired. In addition, some funds are earmarked for the redesign of business statistics, using a similar model.
[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—Introductory Statistical Concepts
| Faculty | Lecturers | Coordinator |
| Salary and Benefits | $99,276 | $99,276 |
| % devoted to instruction | 60% | 60% |
| % devoted to this course | 25% | 35% |
| $ devoted to this course | $14,891 | $20,848 |
| Contact hours for course | 30 | 12 |
| Out of class hours | 130 | 210 |
| Total hours | 160 | 222 |
| Cost per hour | $93 | $94 |
| TAs/GAs | ||
| Salary and Benefits | $16,564 | |
| % devoted to instruction | 75% | |
| % devoted to this course | 33% | |
| $ devoted to this course | $4,141 | |
| Contact hours for course | 40 | |
| Out of class hours | 110 | |
| Total hours | 150 | |
| Cost per hour | $28 | |
| Professional/Staff | $ per | |
| Positions | Hour | |
| $32 |
Step #2A: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course
Instructional Costs of Traditional Lecture/Lab Format Course—Introductory Statistical Concepts
| Faculty | TAs/GAs | Coordinator | ||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $93 | Hourly rate = | $28 | Hourly rate = | $94 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 25 | $2,325 | 10 | $940 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | ||||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 300 | $27,900 | 400 | $11,200 | 2 | $188 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | 25 | $2,325 | 6 | $168 | 20 | $1,880 |
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | $62 | |||||
| 4. Assignments | 10 | $930 | 10 | $940 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 10 | $930 | 15 | $1,410 | ||
| Sub-Total | 370 | $34,435 | 406 | $11,368 | 57 | $5,358 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||
| 1. Orientation | 100 | $2,800 | 9 | $846 | ||
| 2. Staff meetings | 50 | $4,650 | 157 | $4,396 | 18 | $1,692 |
| 3. Attend lectures | 53 | $1,484 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 50 | $4,650 | 310 | $8,680 | 27 | $2,538 |
| Total Preparation | 420 | $39,060 | 716 | $20,048 | 84 | $7,896 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||||
| 2. Presentation | 150 | $13,950 | 600 | $16,800 | 5 | $470 |
| 3. Interaction | 100 | $9,300 | 500 | $14,000 | 5 | $470 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | 50 | $4,650 | 40 | $1,120 | 5 | $470 |
| Sub-Total | 300 | $27,900 | 1140 | $31,920 | 15 | $1,410 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 20 | $1,860 | 47 | $1,316 | 3 | $282 |
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 60 | $5,580 | 472 | $13,216 | 9 | $846 |
| Sub-Total | 80 | $7,440 | 519 | $14,532 | 12 | $1,128 |
| Total Delivery | 380 | $35,340 | 1659 | $46,452 | 27 | $2,538 |
| TOTAL | 800 | $74,400 | 2375 | $66,500 | 111 | $3,999 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $151,334 | |||||
| Total # of students | 750 | |||||
| Cost per student | $202 | |||||
Step #2B: Determine Instructional Costs of Traditional Course
Instructional Costs of Traditional Self-Paced Format Course—Introductory Statistical Concepts
| Coordinator | TAs/GAs | |||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $94 | Hourly rate = | $28 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 10 | $940 | ||
| B. Materials Acquisition | ||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 2 | $188 | ||
| 2. Learning materials/software | 20 | $1,880 | 2 | $56 |
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | ||||
| 4. Assignments | 10 | $940 | ||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 10 | $940 | ||
| Sub-Total | 52 | $4,888 | 2 | $56 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||
| 1. Orientation | 1 | $94 | 20 | $560 |
| 2. Staff meetings | 2 | $188 | 23 | $644 |
| 3. Attend lectures | 10 | $280 | ||
| Sub-Total | 3 | $282 | 53 | $1,484 |
| Total Preparation | 55 | $5,170 | 55 | $1,540 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||
| A. Instruction | ||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | ||||
| 2. Presentation | 12 | $1,128 | ||
| 3. Interaction | 35 | $3,290 | 100 | $2,800 |
| 4. Progress monitoring | 5 | $470 | 10 | $280 |
| Sub-Total | 52 | $4,888 | 110 | $3,080 |
| B. Evaluation | ||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 1 | $94 | 105 | $2,940 |
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 3 | $282 | 55 | $1,540 |
| Sub-Total | 4 | $376 | 160 | $4,480 |
| Total Delivery | 56 | $5,264 | 270 | $7,560 |
| TOTAL | 111 | $10,434 | 325 | $9,100 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $19,534 | |||
| Total # of students | 150 | |||
| Cost per student | $130 | |||
Step 3: Determine Instructional Costs of the Redesigned Course
Instructional Costs of Redesigned Course—Introductory Statistical Concepts
| Faculty | TAs/GAs | Coordinator | Staff | |||||
| # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | # of Hours | Total Cost | |
| Hourly rate = | $93 | Hourly rate = | $28 | Hourly rate = | $94 | Hourly rate = | $32 | |
| I. Course Preparation | ||||||||
| A. Curriculum Development | 10 | $930 | 20 | $1,880 | ||||
| B. Materials Acquisition | ||||||||
| C. Materials Development | ||||||||
| 1. Lectures/presentations | 120 | $11,160 | 360 | $10,080 | 30 | $2,820 | 150 | $4,800 |
| 2. Learning materials/software | 9 | $837 | ||||||
| 3. Diagnostic assessments | 4 | $372 | 5 | $470 | ||||
| 4. Assignments | 4 | $370 | 16 | $1,504 | ||||
| 5. Tests/evaluations | 4 | $370 | 25 | $2,350 | ||||
| Sub-Total | 151 | $14,043 | 360 | $10,080 | 116 | $10,904 | 150 | $4,800 |
| D. Faculty/TA Devmt/Training | ||||||||
| 1. Orientation | 10 | $930 | 120 | $3,360 | 10 | $940 | ||
| 2. Staff meetings | 20 | $1,860 | 160 | $4,480 | 20 | $1,880 | ||
| 3. Attend lectures | ||||||||
| Sub-Total | 30 | $2,790 | 280 | $7,840 | 30 | $2,820 | ||
| Total Preparation | 181 | $16,833 | 640 | $17,902 | 146 | $13,724 | 150 | $4,800 |
| II. Course Delivery | ||||||||
| A. Instruction | ||||||||
| 1. Diagnose skill/knowledge | 10 | $930 | 100 | $2,800 | 5 | $470 | ||
| 2. Presentation | 60 | $5,580 | 690 | $19,320 | 10 | $940 | ||
| 3. Interaction | 40 | $3,720 | 480 | $13,440 | 20 | $1,880 | ||
| 4. Progress monitoring | 5 | $465 | 15 | $420 | 5 | $470 | ||
| Sub-Total | 115 | $10,695 | 1285 | $35,980 | 40 | $3,760 | ||
| B. Evaluation | ||||||||
| 1. Test proctoring | 6 | $558 | 100 | $2,800 | 4 | $124 | ||
| 2. Tests/evaluation | 18 | $1,674 | 300 | $8,400 | 10 | $940 | ||
| Sub-Total | 24 | $2,232 | 400 | $11,200 | 14 | $1,316 | ||
| Total Delivery | 139 | $12,927 | 1685 | $47,180 | 54 | $5,076 | ||
| TOTAL | 320 | $29,760 | 2325 | $65,100 | 200 | $18,800 | 150 | $4,800 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $118,460 | |||||||
| Total # of students | 900 | |||||||
| Cost per student | $132 | |||||||
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...
