Online Course Development Stipend Guidelines and Requirements
Course development is an exciting and creative process. Quality course design and development takes careful planning, consistent communication, and time management with instructors and instructional developers (IDs) working together. Online Education & Individual Studies (OEIS) provides full course development support to instructors, including:
- 1:1 course design consultation with an ID.
- A targeted plan for the ID to develop an accessible, engaging, and high-quality online course in Blackboard Ultra.
- Aligning courses with national quality assurance standards for online learning.
- Exploring strategies to enhance learner engagement and interactivity.
$1000 per unit Stipend
The Online Education team offers course development stipends for faculty and staff interested in obtaining funds to assist with the initial development of a credit course using the University’s Learning Management System (i.e., Blackboard Learn Ultra) and Quality Matters (QM) standards.
The stipend amount for UNI faculty/staff developing a new online course is $1000 per unit of credit. Payment of this stipend will be processed upon completion of a fully developed online course, a completed Course Objective Mapping Form, and a review by QM-certified instructional development staff from the Online Education team. Faculty and staff need to complete QM's foundational online professional development workshops (Applying the QM Rubric and Designing Your Online Course) to be eligible for the course development stipend. Finally, course developments must be completed and reviewed at least three weeks before the start of the course.
Additionally, OEIS will pay a stipend for select course revisions. If you'd like for your course to be considered, please indicate this in your proposal.
Please note: all stipends are subject to the availability of funds.
Priority Criteria
Priority is given to proposals that strengthen the university's strategic portfolio, specifically those that:
- Expand Access: Fill gaps in current offerings or increases opportunities for adult learners.
- Support Growth: Enhance existing distance education programs or support new UNIFI offerings.
- Demonstrate Demand: Show clear evidence of student need or market demand.
- Foster Collaboration: Coordinate the development of courses within online endorsements, certificates, or degree programs.
Funding Policies
- Single-Payment Rule: OEIS funds the development of a specific course only once. If multiple faculty apply for the same course, the Department Head will select the primary applicant for consideration.
- Limits on Development: Faculty and staff are eligible for one additional stipend for a new course, provided that the course has not been previously developed through the stipend process.
Approvals & Eligibility
- Administrative Approval: All applications require approval from the department head and dean.
- Required Training: To receive the development stipend, faculty must complete the foundational QM workshops: Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) and Designing Your Online Course (DYOC).
Platform & Production
- LMS Integration: All courses must be hosted in Blackboard Ultra.
- ID Partnership: Online Education Instructional Developers (IDs) handle the technical build of the course. Faculty are expected to collaborate with their ID for the initial build and all subsequent online iterations to ensure ongoing QM compliance.
Design & Alignment
- QM Standards: Instructors must design courses according to QM Rubric standards and alignments, submitting all content by the established deadline.
- Objective Mapping: All courses must align Module-Level Objectives (MLOs) with Course Objectives (CLOs), Program Outcomes (PLOs), and University Outcomes (SLOs) via a completed Course Objective Mapping Form (provided by the ID).
- Equivalency & Rigor: Online courses must match the academic standards, student achievement levels, and credit-hour rigor (45 total hours per credit) of face-to-face instruction.
Instructional Commitment
- Governance: Courses must adhere to the UNI Faculty Handbook and sponsoring department requirements.
- Future Development: Stipend recipients are expected to apply QM processes and standards to all future online course developments.
- Course Cycle: Developed courses must be offered in the first semester following completion and at least once more within the following two years.
Timeline for Course Development
The Benefits of Getting a Head Start
To ensure a high-quality, Quality Matters (QM) experience, proposals are due the semester before the course is scheduled to run. By submitting your proposal the semester before the course runs, you ensure the necessary window for technical and pedagogical support. This timeline allows faculty and Instructional Developers (IDs) to focus on:
- Deep Collaboration: Work one-on-one with your assigned Instructional Developer (ID).
- Robust Design: Time to test new digital tools and curate instructional materials.
- Accessibility: Ensuring all content meets digital accessibility standards from day one.
- Stress Reduction: Completing your content early allows for a smooth, stress-free transition into the new term
- Course Design Phase: Faculty are expected to work closely with their assigned ID throughout the semester prior to the course launch to ensure all materials are finalized by the "Content Due" date.
Key Deadlines for 2027
Please note the updated deadlines below. Applications must be submitted by these dates to guarantee support for the corresponding term.
Term | Application Deadline | Content Due |
Spring 2027 | August 31, 2026 | October 2, 2026 |
Summer 2027 | January 29, 2027 | March 22, 2027 |
Fall 2027 | January 29, 2027 | May 28, 2027 |
Intellectual Property Rights
All online courses are subject to the University of Northern Iowa Policy on Distributed Learning and Intellectual Property Rights. See www.uni.edu/policies/1008 to review these guidelines.
For questions regarding this application, please contact Caran Howard at caran.howard@uni.edu or 319-273-7639