Project Types and Timeline
Course Development Planning Timeline
To ensure the highest quality and innovation in online and blended course development, NLU follows a structured development timeline across four cycles: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. The outlined timeline for requesting online and blended course development should be followed in all possible situations. In rare instances where it's not possible to adhere to the timeline, such cases will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Timeline to Request Course Developments (College Confirmations)
| Development Term | College Request Deadline | Course Development Period |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Development | August 31 | September – December |
| Winter Development | November 30 - Dec. 17 | December – March |
| Spring Development | February 28 | March – May |
| Summer Development | May 30 | June – August |
Note: Course developments are requested a year in advance. Before each development cycle begins, college deans and program directors confirm with LxD which courses will move forward. The college request deadlines are therefore the point at which course projects must be finalized and ready for LxD to begin development. The course development period then refers to the timeline during which LxD and the development team collaborate on building the course.
Course Development Project Timeline (10 –12 Weeks)
Each course development cycle follows a structured timeline with clearly defined phases and checkpoints. These timelines are essential for ensuring that courses are fully developed, reviewed, and ready to launch before the academic term begins. They also support effective resource allocation, allowing teams to plan budgets and staffing needs accordingly. In addition, structured timelines foster collaboration and clear communication by aligning the efforts of subject matter experts, instructional designers, and administrators. Most importantly, they uphold quality and promote continuous improvement by maintaining high instructional standards across all courses. The process typically involves the following phases:
Sample Course Development Timeline
| Step | Week | Activity | Performed By | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | Send course development acknowledgment letter | Director of LxD | Acknowledgement Letter is sent to the SME via email. |
| 1 | 1 | Kickoff Meeting (Milestone #1) | SME, Dept. Leader, Librarian, LxD | LxD and stakeholders hold a Kickoff meeting to start the project. Discussion includes goals, timelines, roles/responsibilities, communication plan, and available tools/resources. |
| 2.0 | 2 - 4 | 50 - 75% of Course Map (Milestone #2) | SME, LxD, Librarian, Dept. Chair/Leader |
SME submits a solid draft of the course map and reading list/bibliography for eReserves. At least 50% of the course map must be completed (e.g., Modules 1 - 5 for Blended, Modules 1 - 3 for Online). SME consults with LxD throughout the process on module objectives, instructional materials, learning activities, assessments, grading rubrics, and technology integration. |
| 2.1 | 5 - 7 | Full Course Map Submission | SME, LxD, Librarian, Dept. Chair/Leader |
SME submits a full draft of the course map (100% completed) and bibliography for eReserves. SME continues working with LxD and Librarian on course structure and materials. |
| 3 | 8 | Course Map Review and Approval (Milestone #3) | Department Chair/Leader |
Dept. Chair/Leader reviews the course map, provides feedback, and gives final approval. LxD prepares to start building the course in D2L based on the approved course map. SME Compensation: 1st installment is issued upon course map approval. |
| 4 | 9 - 10 | LxD Builds Course Template in D2L | LxD |
LxD builds the course template in D2L following best practices for course quality. SME reviews the template and suggests any needed changes. |
| 5 |
11 - 12 Final Step |
Course Template Review and Approval (Milestone #4) | SME & Dept. Chair |
Dept. Chair/Program Leader reviews and approves the course template. The course must be approved to be considered Complete. SME Compensation: 2nd installment is issued upon course Template approval. |
Project Types Overview
Courses at NLU are regularly evaluated and updated to ensure they align with accreditation standards, industry trends, and student learning needs. These updates fall into five main categories: new development, redevelopment, revision, improvement, and maintenance. Each category has specific timelines, faculty involvement expectations, and collaboration with various NLU departments to ensure a high-quality learning experience for students.
| Project Type | Description | Timeline / Deadlines / Time Requirement | SME Involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Development | Building a brand-new course or creating an existing course in a new modality (e.g., online/blended). Requires a current, approved UCO or CIS. | Request ≥ 2 terms before scheduling. Allow 2 terms for completion before offering to students. 100–150 hrs / over 1–2 terms | Yes — collaborate on course map, credit-hour compliance, instructional materials, learning activities, assessments, rubrics, technology integration, and quality review. |
| Redevelopment | Major reimagining of an existing course due to industry, program, or accreditation changes, and/or informed by student performance, faculty feedback, and engagement metrics. Most or all content replaced and realigned to outcomes. Requires a current, approved UCO or CIS. | Request every 3–5 years after initial development. Allow 2 terms for completion before offering to students. 100–150 hrs / over 1–2 terms | Yes — collaborate on course map, credit-hour compliance, instructional materials, learning activities, assessments, rubrics, technology integration, and quality review. |
| Revision | Substantial update impacting more than 20% of the course content, aimed at restructuring or refining learning. Examples: reorganizing modules, replacing multiple assessments, updating readings/activities, redoing Course Map and credit-hour compliance. Requires a current, approved UCO or CIS. | Request after course has run ≥ 2 terms. Allow 1 term for completion before offering to students. 60–75 hrs / 1 term | Yes — update Course Map, credit-hour compliance, revise materials, review course in D2L. |
| Improvement | Limited update affecting 20% or less of the course content. Purpose is targeted enhancement without altering overall structure. Examples: swapping readings/videos, adding resources, updating a single assignment or rubric, clarifying instructions. | Must be requested by Week 10 of the current term to appear in live courses within the next 2 terms. Up to 20 hrs / 1 term | Depends on scope — SME or Department Chair provides updates; final approval by Department Chair. |
| Maintenance | Small-scale, ready-to-implement changes without altering structure or content. Examples: fixing typos, broken links, dates, or other minor adjustments. | Request by Week 6 of the current term for template updates. Allow 1- 5 business days for CRN ("live course") updates. < 2 hrs | No — details are provided in the request; LxD team implements directly. |
