As defined in the policy on Faculty Evaluation, the majority of full-time faculty responsibilities are in the areas of Teaching and Advising Students: 25% Curriculum Design, 10-30% Advising Students, and 25% Teaching and Delivery of Instruction. Thus, the development of courses, evaluation of student learning outcomes, reporting of outcomes assessments, and revisions to academic programs fall within the contractual responsibilities of faculty. In the area of Curriculum Design, the annual performance review lists these areas of focus:

• Develop Course Framework: Prepare comprehensive course materials, including the syllabus, student learning outcomes (SLOs), and a teaching plan. Prepares course materials: syllabi, student learning outcomes, teaching plans, and evaluation instruments that are appropriate to the course(s) taught. Maintains course and curriculum relevance through research related to courses taught.

• Establish Assessment Strategy: Design a range of evaluation instruments and grading criteria that are fair, transparent, and directly tied to the learning outcomes. Clearly explain these to students in the syllabus.

• Ensure Course Relevance: Stay current in the field through research to ensure the course content and materials are up-to-date and relevant.

• Contribute to Program Assessment: Conduct and participate in course and program-level assessments as required to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum.

•  Refine and Improve: Use feedback from formative and summative evaluations to continuously improve course design and curriculum structure for future semesters.

Additional Compensation for course development, then, is limited and may be offered in the areas listed below:

1. The creation of new courses as approved through the Curriculum Approval Process (CAF Process) is typically accomplished by full time faculty as part of their contractual duties.
2. A new course development stipend may be provided to an adjunct faculty member or other contracted content expert.
3. The conversion or creation of courses for the online format (for the first time only that a course will be delivered online) which includes training in online teaching and learning.

Compensation for the development of online courses is contingent upon the completion of the requirements for each area, described below.

Course Design and Development

The development and revision of courses are critical to ensuring a high-quality learning experience for all students, regardless of instructional modality. Whether a course is offered online, hybrid, or on campus, it is expected to provide students with equivalent opportunities to achieve the established student learning outcomes while maintaining academic rigor and alignment with program and institutional standards.

Course development is a collaborative process between the faculty member, who serves as the subject matter expert and is responsible for the academic content and learning outcomes, the Program Director who is responsible for the overall program integrity, and the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL), which provides expertise in instructional design, educational technology, accessibility, and evidence-based teaching practices. Together, the faculty member and the CITL Instructional Designer develop or revise courses to support effective teaching and student success across all delivery formats.

Each course must include a clearly defined course description, measurable student learning outcomes, aligned assessments, course requirements, learning activities, and a plan for effective instruction appropriate to the selected modality. Courses should incorporate active learning strategies, meaningful student engagement, and regular opportunities for feedback and assessment. Course materials and learning activities should also meet applicable accessibility standards and institutional quality expectations.

Faculty participating in the development or substantial revision of a course are expected to complete any required professional development associated with the instructional modality or technologies being used. Following implementation, courses may be reviewed and revised based on student feedback, assessment results, evolving best practices, and institutional quality assurance processes to support continuous improvement.

Compensation

Course development stipends may be offered when a new course is created, is initially designed for online delivery, or is going through a major course modification. The amount of the stipend is determined by the process established by CITL in coordination with the Dean of the department and is contingent upon satisfactorily fulfilling training and development requirements set forth by the appropriate administrative office.