If you haven't downloaded these instructions and questions, we highly recommend doing that preparation first before starting the form. Copy the Instructions here.
Updated April 2025
Purpose: Strategically use resources to align distance course development and design with
UMA’s mission, vision, and values to:
- Learn from each other to continually improve distance learning at UMA;
- Support faculty to develop or revise new and innovative distance courses and curriculum;
- leverage faculty subject expertise and learning experience designers in a structured, collegial, and collaborative design process to adopt high impact teaching practices;
- leverage the resources of UMA academic services to support student learning;
- transcend average quality standards of distance education; and
- achieve consistent, high-quality, engaging student-centered education for a diverse and digital future.
Instructions
Full and part-time faculty are invited to apply for a Distance Course Development Grant using this application when they seek support to design or redesign and develop an innovative new distance course. The grant provides either release time (full-time faculty only) or a stipend, (both full and part-time faculty), and intensive support from a learning experience designer with the FDC and the full academic services team, per the course's goals.
Use this application to:
- Release Time: Request approval of release time during fall or spring semesters to develop a new or adapt a current course for Hybrid/Blended, Distance Synchronous, Online, or Hyflex delivery (full-time faculty only). The process must be completed during the semester of release time. Requests for extensions must be made to your dean.
- Stipend funded up to $1,500.00: Request approval of a stipend to develop a new course for Hybrid/Blended, Distance Synchronous, Online, or Hyflex delivery (full or part-time faculty).
- Stipend funded up to $500.00: Request approval of a stipend to adapt or redesign a current course for Hybrid/Blended, Distance Synchronous, Online, or Hyflex delivery (full or part-time faculty).
- Adapt or redesign shall mean: To make the current course suitable for delivery in the new distance instructional modality or, substantively redesign a course to incorporate and update high-impact instructional strategies, authentic learning assessments better suited for distance education, and technologies that align with the purpose of this process.
Commitments if Grant is Awarded
If a distance course development grant is awarded, the faculty and learning experience designers agree to the following conditions and commitments.
- The distance course being developed falls into one of the following course modalities.
- Hybrid/Blended
- Distance Synchronous
- Online
- Hyflex
- The course must be fully developed in the current UMA Learning Management System (LMS) and reviewed using the Distance Course Development Checklist by both the faculty and a Learning Experience Designer and verified of its completion within 12 - 14 weeks from the start of the process. At that point, the stipend can be paid.
- Fully Developed shall mean: All content, learning experiences, and assessments not reliant on current topics are developed and reviewed at least 12-14 weeks from the start of the process. Where content is reliant on current texts and resources (e.g., legislation, current publications, or events, etc.), placeholders will be used to identify this in the learning module where it will be experienced in the course. Course is determined to be accessible per the Distance Course Development Checklist.
- All full-time faculty submitting a Distance Course Development Grant Application will have completed the UMA Learning, Experience, and Design (LEAD) Course through the FDC prior to their application if hired after September 2022.
- Full-time faculty who were hired and have taught distance courses using the current LMS for UMA prior to September 2022 are encouraged but not required to complete this certificate course.
- Part-time faculty are encouraged and welcome to complete this certificate course.
- Deadlines for Applications: Successful courses require careful planning and continual revision. The application deadlines are listed below. The course development process is expected to take 12 weeks with 2 weeks for final review, for a total of 14 weeks. This timeline might be a little longer or shorter depending on the date the course development process begins.
- For a fall course application deadline is May 14th
- For a spring course application deadline is October 10th
- For a summer course application deadline is January 25th
- Exceptions to these deadlines are sometimes justified and can be requested by the applicat with this application. Consideration for an exception will be given when urgent student and program needs are evident, and not granting the exception would negatively impact students or the program. If this application requires an exception, please provide the justification in the application. Your college dean will make the final determination.
- Per the goals of the course being developed, intensive support and collaboration with faculty will be provided by learning experience designers (LXDs) with the FDC and the full academic services team. LXDs will work with faculty to determine which services to enlist given the teaching methods and content design goals for the course.
- New Tools/technologies incorporated into your course must be reviewed for digital accessibility and information security through the standard UMS process. This Information Technology Review process takes time and must be completed prior to using new technology in your course.
If you experience any
technical or accessibility issues with this form please contact the FDC at 207-262-7979 or email at uma-fdc@maine.edu and someone will help you. Just ask. We'll help! UMA FDC