PROJECT EAGLE I (Part B), "online learning project"

BUDGET

Detailed Budget Narrative

Funds requested for Project Eagle I (Part B) are mainly in three areas: personnel, including fringe benefits, software, and equipment. Through Project Eagle II (P116Z030112) we were able to fund the start-up of this ambitious undertaking; however, as was stated in the detailed budget narrative for that project, SPC did not have all of the funds necessary to sustain the personnel or address the full extent of identified program objectives for the duration of the project period. Consequently, additional funding for personnel is necessary to extend the objectives of the previous project. Additional developmental tasks have been added for the personnel to address through this appropriation.

Project Eagle II (P116Z030112) secured salaries for personnel only for Year 1 of its four-year period. In each of Years 2-4, the personnel category was drastically under-funded. The levels of program accomplishments were also scaled back. As was stated in the earlier proposal, “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.” This appropriation, Project Eagle I (Part B), will fund the personnel category an additional $1,173,305; $369,555 for year 1, $390,859 for year 2, and $412,891 for year 3 for personnel, including fringe benefits. Any fees or revenue generated from the project will go back to operating costs of the distance education department and the individual departments that developed the courses.

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

A. Personnel

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

1. 7 educational technologists -- varying percentages of their salaries are assigned to Project Eagle I (Part B)-- to assist faculty with course development and re-development;

2. 5 technology design specialists -- varying percentages of salary assigned to Project Eagle I (Part B) -- to assist in the technical aspects of course development and redevelopment;

3. Help Desk staff to address online students’ technical issues or concerns;

4. One web assistant/programmer to work on the development of interfaces between the CMS, PeopleSoft, Eagle I applications and the new College-wide portal;

5. One half-time programmer to develop the code and systems for integrating new Eagle curricula and services into Web CT, the College’s online-course management system;

6. One assistant engineer to coordinate the integrated distribution of video and related applications;

7. One interactive-classrooms specialist to assist with blended learning initiatives in specialized distance classrooms;

8. A half time cyberadvisor as a “face” to support online students throughout the application/testing/admissions/registration process and beyond;

9. 3 videography staff — quarter time of a senior videographer to organize and coordinate Eagle I (Part B)-related video activities, a full-time videographer to work on Eagle II programming with emphasis on the National Center for Teaching Transformation (NCTT), and half the salary of a half-time video assistant;

10. Server administration support;

11. Interactive-classroom technical support;

12. Stipends for College Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) developing and redeveloping online curriculum;

13. The Project Eagle Program Coordinator.

Total in Personnel is $892,876: $289,869 for the first year, $297,785 for the second year, and $305,222 for the third year.

B. Fringe Benefits

Fringe benefits are calculated using the standard College package, i.e., 28% of salary.
Total in Benefits is $280,429 - $79,686 for the first year, $93,074 for the second year, and $107,669 for the third year.

C. Travel
No travel will be supported with this funding.

D. Equipment

Equipment requests focus on the digitization of SPC-TV. Digital storage and automation will allow unattended operation, automated satellite recording, 24/7 compatibility, compressed storage of media, and enhanced reliability. The estimated cost of the Digitization of SPC-TV is $100,000. The two remaining years of equipment costs will fund maintenance and replacement of staff development and program equipment and for SPC-TV.

Total for Equipment is $148,276 - $100,000 for the first year, $24,300 for the second year, and $24,258 for the third year.

E. Supplies

Funding for materials and supplies is mainly for the new software to support the new portal throughout the duration of Eagle I (Part B). Although the requested $60,000 will not cover the entire cost of the software, it will cover the majority of the expense. The following is requested:

1. Portal Software - $60,000

2. Additional Program materials, supplies, and software - $20,000
Total for Supplies is $80,000.

F. Contractual

No funding is requested for contractual services.

G. Construction

No Construction will be supported with this funding.

H. Other

No other funding is requested.

I. Direct Costs.

See budget categories A – H above.

J. Indirect Costs.

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

Total amount requested is $89,287.

K. Training Stipends.

No funding is requested in this category.

L. Total Costs


Over the 3 years, the total equals the amount listed reduced by the across-the-board Congressional rescission listed in the award letter: $1,491,150.