Updated Guidelines – Undergraduate Course Development Fund (PDAD&C #113)

Since 2011-12, the Undergraduate Course Development Fund (UCDF) has been successfully providing opportunities for faculty members in graduate-only and professional divisions to share their expertise with undergraduate students. Through the program, undergraduate students have access to the full range of the University’s world-class faculty, and undergraduate programs are able to greatly expand the scope and depth of their course offerings.

Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, the UCDF program will implement updated funding and assessment frameworks, detailed below. The 2017-18 academic year is intended to provide time to support transition processes for courses that will require modifications due to the new frameworks.

Funding framework

UCDF courses that are approved for an exemption that allows for a status-only instructor are only eligible for $12,500, regardless of enrolment. UCDF courses that meet the eligibility requirements on an ongoing basis receive annual funding based on the following total course enrolment allotments:

Evaluation Process

In order to ensure regular maintenance of UCDF courses and partnerships, each UCDF course will be required to undergo an evaluation process every three years, to be coordinated by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, in collaboration with both participating divisions for each UCDF course. The evaluation procedures will be as follows:

• The rolling three-year schedule of reviews will be available to all divisions at all times.
• At the beginning of each academic year, divisions will be reminded of all courses scheduled to undergo a review by the end of that year.
• Undergraduate and graduate divisions/units will collaborate to complete the UCDF three-year report, which will include:
  • A self-audit of the course based on the initial parameters established three years prior, either during the initial course proposal or the previous three-year evaluation;
  • Statement of intention for the course over the following three-year window;
  • Signature of both Deans in support of the statement of intention for the course;
  • Complete course evaluation reports for all offerings of the course within the three year evaluation window;
  • Any additional materials divisions feel relevant to the course offering (e.g. letters of support, syllabi, etc.).
• Report form and appendices will be returned to the Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education.

The updated guidelines for the UCDF program can be found here. All questions regarding the program should be directed to:

Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education
vp.iue@utoronto.ca