Course Development & Revenue Sharing

Continuing Education Course Development Process

North Carolina A&T State University's Extended Campus partners with faculty, departments, and industry experts to develop high-quality continuing education programs that meet workforce and community needs. Our collaborative course development process guides program creators from concept to launch, providing support with curriculum planning, instructional design, budgeting, marketing, registration setup, accessibility compliance, and program evaluation. Whether developing a professional certificate, workforce training, or community enrichment course, our team works alongside instructors to ensure each offering is engaging, learner-centered, and positioned for success.

How To Develop a Course

A Subject Matter Expert (SME) may begin the process by expressing interest in developing a Continuing Education course or training program. 

Before submitting a request, SMEs are encouraged to: 

  • Consult with their department chair, director, supervisor, or dean 

 

If the course already exists, SMEs should connect directly with their department's leadership for guidance on next steps. 

 
If the course does not exist, the SME may proceed to Step 2. 

When submitting the Course Development Request form, the SME will need to provide key information that helps Extended Campus evaluate the proposal and determine appropriate support. 

Specifically, the SME should be prepared to include: 

  • Contact information and academic credentials 
  • Department and college affiliation 
  • A clear course title and brief description of the proposed course 
  • The intended audience (who the course is designed for) 
  • The preferred delivery format (e.g., online, hybrid, instructor-led) 
  • A general timeline for when the course is expected to launch 
  • Any anticipated support needs, such as instructional design, marketing, or technical assistance 
  • The funding source, if applicable 
  • Whether the course is intended for Continuing Education or workforce development purposes 

 

Once a Course Development Request is submitted, it is first reviewed by the appropriate department chair, director, or supervisor. The request is then routed to Extended Campus for review and final approval. 

Department Review 

The department chair, director, or supervisor evaluates the proposal to determine whether it should move forward. Review considerations include: 

  • Alignment with academic or program goals 
  • Instructor qualifications and subject matter expertise 
  • Course content and structure 
  • Institutional and compliance requirements 
  • Resource availability 

Extended Campus Review 

After departmental approval, Extended Campus reviews the request to confirm: 

  • The course is not already offered in the Continuing Education catalog 
  • The proposed offering aligns with Continuing Education programming goals and capacity 

Once the course is approved by both the department and Extended Campus, the course development process begins. 

Extended Campus initiates development support, which may include: 

  • Instructional design consultation and course planning 
  • Provides guidance to help instructors design effective courses, including learning objectives, content structure, and delivery approach. 
  • Course structure development and alignment 
  • Organizes course content and activities so they align with learning goals, ensuring a logical and effective learning experience. 
  • Quality assurance and accessibility review 
  • Reviews courses to ensure they meet academic standards and are accessible to all learners, including compliance with accessibility guidelines. 
  • Learning Management System (LMS) setup and publishing support 
  • Assists with building and uploading courses into the LMS (e.g., Canvas) and preparing them for student access. 
  • Marketing and enrollment coordination, as applicable 
  • Supports course promotion and student registration processes when needed, helping increase visibility and enrollment. 

A project timeline and support plan will be developed collaboratively with the SME and the department to ensure clear expectations and deliverables. 

Approval Timeline: 
The approval process is typically completed within 5–7 business days after Extended Campus receives the required documentation. 

For more information, please contact the Extended Campus at extendedcampus@ncat.edu  

Continuing Education Course Revenue Sharing Model

This model defines how net revenue generated from non-credit professional development, workforce development, and continuing education programs is distributed within the university’s Continuing Education division. 

Upfront Development Costs
Upfront costs refer to the initial expenses required to design, develop, and prepare a course for delivery prior to program launch. These costs are typically incurred before revenue is generated and are essential to ensuring course quality and readiness. 

Examples of Upfront Costs Include: 

  • Course Development Stipend 
    Compensation provided to subject matter experts (SMEs) or faculty for creating course content, including curriculum design, instructional materials, assessments, and learning activities. 
  • Instructional Design Services 
    Costs associated with designing and structuring the course to meet best practices in adult learning, engagement, and accessibility. 
  • If internal instructional design support (e.g., ITTD) is available, services may be provided at no cost. 
  • If third-party instructional design support is required, associated fees will be considered upfront development costs. 

Funding and Cost Responsibility 

  • Primary Responsibility (Academic Department): The academic department is responsible for covering upfront development costs, including course development stipends and any required instructional design services. 
  • Continuing Education Support (If Needed): The Department of Continuing Education may cover upfront costs on behalf of the academic department when funding is not immediately available. 
  • Cost Recovery Requirement: Any upfront costs covered by Continuing Education must be reimbursed by the academic department from program revenue before net revenue is calculated and distributed. 

Impact on Revenue Sharing 

  • Upfront development costs are treated as direct expenses. 
  • These costs are deducted from gross revenue prior to calculating net revenue. 
  • The 70% / 30% revenue sharing model is applied only after all upfront and direct expenses have been fully recovered. 

Academic Department 

Academic departments are responsible for: 

  • Providing subject matter expertise 
  • Designing curriculum and learning outcomes 
  • Developing course content and assessments 
  • Selecting and overseeing instructors 
  • Delivering instruction 
  • Updating course content as needed 

Department of Continuing Education 

The Department of Continuing Education is responsible for: 

  • Conducting market research and assessing program viability 
  • Managing the course approval process 
  • Marketing and promoting programs 
  • Recruiting and supporting learners 
  • Processing registration and payments 
  • Providing customer service and learner support 
  • Managing the Canvas LMS and course publishing 
  • Issuing certificates 
  • Overseeing budgeting and financial operations 
  • Collecting and reporting revenue data 
  • Ensuring compliance and risk management 
  • Providing technology and operational support 

 

Revenue Calculation Framework 

Gross Revenue 

Gross revenue includes: 

  • Tuition and registration fees 
  • Corporate contracts 
  • Sponsorships 
  • Other approved program-related income 

Less Direct Expenses 

Direct expenses may include: 

  • Advertising and marketing costs 
  • Instructor stipends (if paid separately from departmental funds) 
  • Course materials and supplies 
  • Software, licensing, or platform fees 
  • External consultants or vendor services 
  • Payment processing fees 

Less Indirect Costs (if applicable) 

Indirect costs may include: 

  • Administrative overhead 
  • Shared institutional services (IT, LMS, finance, etc.) 
  • Institutional assessments 

Net Revenue 

Net revenue is calculated as: 

Net Revenue = Gross Revenue – Direct Expenses – Indirect Costs 

Revenue sharing is based on net revenue. 

Revenue Sharing Model 

  • 70% Academic Department / 30% Continuing Education 
    Net revenue is distributed between the academic department and the Department of Continuing Education using a 70/30 split. 
  • Applied After Direct Expenses 
    The revenue split is calculated after all direct program expenses have been paid, ensuring that only net revenue is distributed. 
Instructor Compensation Policy 

Instructor compensation must be determined prior to course launch. All compensation must be funded through the academic department’s share of revenue. 

The academic department is responsible for processing all payments in accordance with university HR and payroll procedures, including PSA, ePAF, or other applicable contractual agreements. 

Continuing Education Marketing Service Menu 

Table consists of service, description, and value

Service 

Description 

Estimated Value 

Website/Landing Page Development 

Program page creation, registration links, SEO optimization, copywriting, accessibility review, analytics setup 

$1,500 

Website Updates & Maintenance 

Ongoing edits, faculty updates, registration deadlines, content refreshes 

$500 

Flyer Design 

Print and digital flyer, revisions, PDF formatting 

$500 

Social Media Campaign 

Graphics, captions, scheduling, audience targeting, 4–6 posts 

$1,000 

Email Marketing Templates 

5 recruitment emails, reminder emails, completion emails 

$750 

Digital Badge Design 

Branded credential badge design and specifications 

$750 

Third-Party Swag Design 

Shirt, notebook, tote, sticker, or promotional item artwork 

$1,000 

Vendor Event Representation 

Staffing, table setup, materials, lead collection 

$1,500 per event 

In-Person Recruitment Presentation 

Information session, corporate visit, chamber event, community presentation 

$750 per event 

Paid Advertising Management 

Meta, Google, LinkedIn campaign setup and reporting (ad spend separate) 

$1,500 

Marketing Analytics & Reporting 

Enrollment dashboard, lead tracking, conversion reporting 

$750 

Continuing Education Course Development Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Course development is the process of designing, creating, or redesigning educational offerings for online, hybrid, face-to-face, continuing education, workforce development, certificate, and other instructional delivery formats. 

Faculty, staff, industry professionals, and qualified Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) may be eligible to develop courses, depending on the course type, content expertise, and applicable approval requirements. 

Extended Campus supports the development of continuing education, workforce development, certificate and credential programs, self-paced and instructor-led online courses, and customized industry training programs designed to meet specific organizational needs. 

To propose a new course or training program, submit a Course Development Request through the Extended Campus Course Development Portal or complete the Course Interest Form.  

After submission, your proposal will be reviewed, and a member of the Extended Campus team will contact you regarding next steps. 

Yes. Department approval is required for all courses. 

The Department of Continuing Education does not provide compensation for course development. Any compensation, if applicable, would need to be provided by the academic department, grant funding, or an external partner in accordance with institutional policies. 

In many cases, course developers and SMEs may be considered to teach the course they develop. Teaching assignments are subject to university policies, instructor qualifications, enrollment needs, and program requirements. 

Development timelines vary depending on project scope and complexity. 

Typical timelines include: 

  • Course redesigns: 4–8 weeks 
  • New course developments: 8–16 weeks 
  • Complex workforce or industry projects: timelines vary based on project requirements 

Extended Campus coordinates course development support, which may include: 

  • Instructional design consultation 
  • Course planning and development 
  • Learning management system (LMS) support 
  • Accessibility guidance 
  • Quality assurance review 
  • Project management support 
  • Marketing and enrollment consultation 

 

Additional specialized services may require supplemental funding and may be the responsibility of the sponsoring department, grant-funded project, or industry partner. 

Instructional design services may be provided through: 

  • Internal university instructional designers 
  • ITTD-supported instructional design services 
  • Approved external instructional design partners 

 

The support model selected will depend on: 

  • Project scope and complexity 
  • Timeline requirements 
  • Available resources 
  • Funding availability 

 

Projects requiring extensive design, multimedia production, or specialized development may incur additional costs. 

Ownership of course materials and intellectual property is governed by university policies, contractual agreements, funding requirements, and applicable intellectual property regulations. 

Questions regarding ownership will be addressed during project planning.