In an effort to reduce high credit loads in some SCSE programs and to reduce the high stakes nature of higher credit bearing courses, many SCSE departments are revising curriculum to reduce 5 credit course to 4 credit courses. 

To reach the 5 to 4 transition program goals, funding is available to support faculty as they work to develop course changes. The funding is intended to support the work of a faculty member or team who must complete a significant revision of the course to transition to a 4 credit model. This funding supports faculty stipends. Funding is available on a one-time basis for development of the revised course.  Follow up funding for revisions after piloting may be available; contact Rachel Ellestad for details.

Deliverables:

1. Develop learning objectives for revised course

2. Develop syllabus for revised course

3. Individual or Group Instructor Outcomes: (One of the following items – or you can propose an outcome more specific to your context in your proposal)

   • Provide summaries of at least 3 revised lectures and 3 revised course activities (e.g., homework assignments, lab activities, projects, etc).

   • Documentation of course revisions resulting from coordinated efforts to make courses taught by multiple instructors more consistent (in content, delivery/teaching methods, and assessment) to improve student success.

   • Documentation of course revisions resulting from coordinated efforts to reorganize material within and across multiple courses as well as classroom modalities (lecture, lab, discussion) within the same department.

   • Documentation of course revisions resulting from coordinated efforts across departments in aligning learning outcomes of “service” courses with expectations of “client” departments.

4. Identify and coordinate contact with campus partners needed to support revised course (e.g., AWLC, Learning Assistant Program, Career Center, Tutoring, etc.)

5. Develop assessment plan to assess overall impact of course changes (support provided by Anne Kruchten in the development of this item)

6. Develop timeline for remainder of changes necessary for implementation

Eligibility and Funding:

Courses undergoing a 5 to 4 change can be supported by this funding.

This application deadline is rolling to allow for flexibility of project start and implementation.  

• All courses in this round of funding must be piloted in Fall 2024, Spring 2025 or Fall 2025.

• Deliverables (below) must be satisfactorily completed at least three weeks before the pilot begins

• Groups can choose the date of submission for deliverables 1&2 and deliverables 3-6.  Stipends will be processed after satisfactory submission of the deliverables (see stipends info below.)

• Applications must be submitted at least six weeks before the piloting of a course.

Stipends:

$3000 per participant paid $1000 at completion of 1 and 2 and $2000 at completion of 3-6

Stipends will be paid during the summer.

Please note: stipends are only available for faculty at UMD.

Application:

1. List of Participants to receive Stipends for deliverables and/or course instruction

2. Please provide an overall project description for your 5 to 4 change project (approx. 200 words). 

3. For Deliverable 3, please provide a short description of the specific outcome you will work on for this deliverable. It can be an example provided or something else. (approx. 200 words) 

4. Timeline for submission of deliverables and piloting of course.

• The pilot must occur in Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Fall 2025.

• Deliverables must be completed at least three weeks before the start of the pilot.  Groups may choose their submission date within these parameters.