Select online courses are eligible for development funding at the rate of $500 per credit. The information from the UFWW-CBA that pertains to course development is included below for reference.
22.16.4 – Online Courses
22.16.4.1 – Course Development
22.16.4.1.1 – The University will pay faculty not less than $500 per credit to develop online courses. These courses shall be considered work for hire. For course materials developed for payment from the university, the university may only share those materials with dean and departmentally approved instructors for that course. Course materials developed for payment from the university may only be used for the teaching of courses at Western by departmentally approved instructors. Faculty members who develop course materials for online courses retain the right to use those materials in other instructional formats.
22.16.4.1.2 – Faculty may elect to develop online courses without compensation from the University. These courses remain the sole property of the faculty members who develop them. Faculty may use summer teaching grants to develop these courses and still retain ownership.
Regardless of what the faculty member decides for development compensation and how the course is scheduled, WesternOnline will provide instructional design support through the development and delivery of a course.
Development Process
Compensation for course development follows the WWU Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement. Prior to beginning the course development paperwork, it is required that courses complete the curricular review process, following ACC’s Policies and Guidance.
Once a faculty member has communicated with their department chair and obtained permission from any necessary curriculum review committees, Outreach and Continuing Ed will initiate the authorization for course development form. This is routed through the department, college, and the faculty developer.
The WesternOnline Instructional Design team is available to support faculty throughout the proposal, design, development, instruction, and evaluation phases. Review the Course Design and Development Processes and the Faculty Engagement pages on this site for additional information.
After development is complete, WesternOnline/Outreach and Continuing Ed will conduct a course review, using the WesternOnline Course Design Indicators, then communicate with the chair to ensure that the course meets the departmental expectations. After the chair signs off on the development, the development funds are released to the course developer.
