PROJECT EAGLE II, "online learning project"

BUDGET

Detailed Budget Narrative

Funds requested for Project Eagle II are primarily in two areas: personnel, including fringe benefits, and equipment.  Except where noted in the Project Narrative, the salaries for personnel for Year 1 represent three quarters of a year of projected salaries, based on current wage rates plus a projected salary raise, to represent both a transition from Eagle I and lapse in hiring due to advertising, interviewing, etc.  All personnel connected with the Center for Teacher Transformation (CTT) portion of Eagle II are for one year only.  Other external funding is expected to support the program after completion of its start-up this coming year.  The remaining positions in Project Eagle II after Year 1 will be supported with a combination of institutional funds, grant monies, and Project Eagle II monies.  Developmental tasks cited for Project Eagle personnel in Years 2-4 of funding reflect only tasks to be completed with this specific appropriation.

The detailed narrative below references the budget category numbers in the Budget Information summary chart.

1. Personnel
   

   Salaries cover the costs of the following Educational Technology and Information Technology personnel

   • 7 educational technologists -- varying percentages of their salaries are assigned to Eagle II -- to assist faculty with course development and redevelopment ($142,555);
   • 6 technology design specialists -- varying percentages of salary assigned to Eagle II -- to assist in the technical aspects of course development and redevelopment ($80,475);
   • Help Desk staff to address online students' technical issues or concerns ($67,500);
   • One web assistant/programmer to work on the development of interfaces between the CMS, PeopleSoft, Eagle I applications and the new College-wide portal ($34,125);
   • One half-time Web CT programmer to develop the code and systems for integrating new Eagle curricula and services into the College's course management system ($22,455);
   • One assistant engineer to coordinate the integrated distribution of video and related applications ($27,750);
   • One interactive-classrooms specialist to assist with blended learning initiatives in specialized distance classrooms ($17,250);
   • A half time cyberadvisor as a "face" to support online students throughout the application/testing/admissions/registration process and beyond ($12,600);
   • 3 videography staff - quarter time of a senior videographer to organize and coordinate Eagle II-related video activities, a full-time videographer to work on Eagle II programming with emphasis on CTT, and half the salary of a half-time video assistant (total of $77,750);
   • Server administration support ($10,000);
   • Interactive-classroom technical support ($10,000);
   • Stipends for College SMEs developing and redeveloping online curriculum ($54,500);
   • The Project Eagle Program Coordinator ($45,375);
   • 75% time of the Director CTT ($80,000);
   • One Assistant Director of CTT ($60,000);
   • One staff assistant for the Director and the Assistant Director (total of $60,000).

   Total in Personnel of $802,335 in Year 1; total Personnel for 4 years is $1,946,685.

2. Fringe Benefits
   

   Fringe benefits are calculated using the standard College package, i.e., 28% of salary.

   Total in Benefits of $224,655 in Year 1; total in Benefits for 4 years is $545,057.

3. Travel
   

   Funds for travel are needed to support extended research in Year 1 to identify models and opportunities, especially related to the start-up of CTT.  Throughout the project it is expected that College faculty and staff will be traveling to conferences to stay abreast of developments in areas related to Eagle II; to other institutions to gather information and share successes; and to meetings to disseminate results and evaluations, e.g., the MERLOT initiative.

   Total for Travel in Year 1 is $50,000; total Travel for 4 years is $125,000.

4. Equipment
   

   Equipment requests focus on supporting the development of educational content and (in the case of CTT) distribution through specialized equipment.  The College is already blessed with robust network architecture and much of the necessary hardware to make this an exemplary project.

   Specific requests for Year 1, with the rationale for each previously detailed in the Project Narrative, include the following:

   • One mobile production system for shooting and editing video on scene ($175,000);
   • Mobile streaming equipment for web-based instruction across the College ($26,840);
   • Campus-based faculty development centers, all sites ($175,000);
   • A teleprompter for interview settings ($8,000);
   • One full size interactive classroom and related peripherals for use by CTT ($164,000).
   • For Year 2, $95,000 is requested; for Years 3 - 4, $90,000 is requested annually to support new and upgraded equipment needed for the development and redevelopment of courses and programs, including the reusable learning objects, SPC-TV/video-on-demand, and mobile computing initiatives.
   • Total for Year 1 Equipment is $548,840; total Equipment for 4 years is$823,840.
5. Supplies
   

   Funding is requested for materials and supplies (including software) throughout the duration of Eagle II.  The following is requested for Year 1:

   • next generation course management software($110,000);
   • miscellaneous software connected with course development and redevelopment ($40,000);
   • website interactive software for CTT ($25,000).

   Total for Year 1 Supplies is $175,000; total Supplies for 4 years is $272,500.

6. Contractual
   

   For Year 1, Contractual services include the following:

   • Consultants/outside SMEs for CTT program development ($70,000);
   • University Partnership Center faculty course development ($18,000);
   • Support each year of the Project for market/info services ($15,000);
   • Research and dissemination ($15,000);
   • Formative/summative evaluation ($15,000).

   For Years 2 - 4 only, $45,000 is requested annually to support bullets 3 - 5,above.

   Total of Contractual Services for Year 1 is $133,000; total Contractual for 4 years is $268,000.

7. No Construction will be supported with this funding.
8. Other
   

   For Year 1, Other costs include the following:

   • $10,000 for Printing/advertising for online courses/materials;
   • Start-up costs for CTT, e.g., printing/advertising @ $75,000, mailings @$75,000, and telecom services @ $30,000;
   • $50,000 for rental for STAR Center;

   For Year 2, Other costs include the following:

   • $10,000 for Printing/advertising for online courses/materials; and
   • $25,000 for rental for STAR Center;

   For Years 3 - 4, Other costs include the following:

   • $10,000 for Printing/advertising for online courses/materials; and

   Total for Other for Year 1 is $240,000; total for Other for 4 years, is $295,000.

9. Direct Costs.
   

   See budget categories A - H above.

10. Indirect Costs.
    

    SPC has requested 10% of salaries/wages for indirect costs, significantly less than the percentage used in federal grants (41.3% of salaries and wages) so that more funding can be used to support the outcomes of Project Eagle II.  (A copy of the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement follows this Budget Narrative.)

11. Training Stipends.
    

    No funding is requested in this category.

12. Total Costs
    

    Over the 4 years, the total equals the amount listed reduced by the across-the-board Congressional rescission listed in the award letter: $4,470,750.