Compensation Formula and Policy for Faculty-Directed Programs

Full-time faculty compensation formula

A faculty member’s salary and benefits for a faculty-directed education abroad program are paid from student tuition funds from courses connected to the program. Although Education Abroad pays a faculty member’s salary and benefits, their course is counted toward their college's credit hour production.

The faculty expenses are divided by the number of students who participate in the program. This number is decided by two factors:

  1. The number of students who can safely be accommodated on the travel component of the program, and
  2. The effort to keep the total cost per student at a reasonable amount. The minimum number of students needed is based on the program director’s compensation.

Here is an example of how a full-time faculty member’s salary and program’s minimum number of students is calculated using a salary of $50,000 and a three-credit course:

  1. Here is an example of how a full-time faculty member’s salary and program’s minimum number of students is calculated using a salary of $50,000 and a three-credit course:

    1. Faculty base pay multiplied by .025 (e.g. $50,000 x .025 = $1,250).
    2. Point #1 total multiplied by the number of credit hours of the class (e.g. $1,250 x 3 = $3,750).
    3. Point #2 total would be the faculty member’s salary for the program.
    4. For benefits, multiply faculty pay by 44.5% (e.g. $3,750 x .445 = $1,668.75).
    5. Add #s 2 and 4 to determine total faculty compensation (e.g. $3,750 + $1,668.75 = $5,418.75).
    6. Multiply the number of credit hours of the course by the tuition cost per credit hour (e.g. 3 x $290 = $870.00 for undergraduate courses and 3 x $379 = $1,137.00 for graduate courses).
    7. Divide Point #5 total by Point #6 total (e.g. $5,418.75 ÷ $870.00 = 6.2284) So, the minimum number of students on this faculty-directed program is 7.
    8. The amount of compensation per student can be found by dividing 1 by Point #7 (1 ÷ 6.2284 = 16.0554%) and multiplying that number by Point #2 total (16.0554% x $3,750 = $602.07). Compensation is capped at the total in Point #2 ($3,750).

If a full-time faculty member does not have the minimum number of students for the program, they may choose to receive a lower salary. Please note that faculty members have an obligation to lead the program after it has been determined that the program will proceed. If a student withdraws after the deadline date, that student will not receive refunds on program deposits, administrative fees, already-paid program costs, or any credits of scholarship monies tied directly to the program. Students also must officially withdraw from the course via the Registrar’s Office, and will receive only the percentage of tuition refund due according to the course withdrawal deadlines set by University policy. Faculty members should note, in turn, that their salaries will be prorated according to the above faculty salary formula, taking into account the lower number of student participants paying full tuition per credit hour. The program cannot be cancelled for reason of decrease of faculty salary after the agreed-upon deadline date has passed and program costs have been paid by Education Abroad to third-party vendors.

If faculty offer more than one course on the Education Abroad program, their salary will be calculated based on the course that has reached the minimum number of students. If no single course has reached its enrollment minimum, then the number of students who are registered will be combined in an effort to reach minimum enrollment for one course. Thus, the salary formula is based on one course’s minimum number of students.

Per course instructor compensation formula

Per course instructors may apply as co-directors with a Missouri State full-time tenure-track or non-tenure track faculty who has primary fiscal responsibility for the program. A per course instructor’s salary and benefits (Social Security and Medicare) for a faculty-directed education abroad program are paid from the revenue generated from student tuition funds. Although Education Abroad pays a per course instructor’s salary and benefits, their course is counted towards the college’s credit hour production. MSU’s Faculty Handbook (section 3.5.8) states that per course faculty may not teach more than twelve hours over a rolling calendar year.

A per course instructor’s program expenses are divided by the number of students who participate in the program. This number is decided by two factors: 1) the number of students who can safely be accommodated on the travel component of the program, and 2) the effort to keep the total cost per student at a reasonable amount. The minimum number of students needed is based on the program director’s compensation.

Here is an example of how a per course instructor’s salary and program’s minimum number of students is calculated using a salary of $2,400 for a three-credit course:

  1. Here is an example of how a per course instructor’s salary and program’s minimum number of students is calculated using a salary of $2,400 for a three-credit course:

    1. The per course instructor’s salary per course is determined by the instructor’s dean. In this example, the salary is $2,400.00 for a 3-credit course.
    2. The instructor’s salary is multiplied by the benefits (Social Security and Medicare only) percentage of 7.7% (e.g.$2,400 x .077 = $184.80) for the benefits total.
    3. The instructors salary and benefits are added for the total compensation (e.g. $2,400 + $184.8 = $2,584.80)
    4. The number of credit hours per course is multiplied by the tuition cost per credit hour (e.g. 3 x $290 = $870.00 for undergraduate courses and 3 x $370 = $1,110.00 for graduate courses)
    5. Divide the total compensation amount (Point #3) by the tuition cost (Point #4) for the minimum number of students for the program (e.g. $2,584.80 ÷ $870.00 = 2.9710). So, the minimum number of students on this faculty-directed program is 3.
    6. The amount of compensation per student can be found by dividing 1 by Point #5 (1 ÷ 2.9710 = 33.6587%) and multiplying that number by Point #1 total (33.6587% x $2,400 = $807.80). Compensation is capped at the total in Point #3 ($2,584.80).

If a per course instructor does not have the minimum number of students for the program, they may choose to receive a lower salary. If a student withdraws after the deadline date, that student will not receive refunds on program deposits, administrative fees, already-paid program costs, or any credits of scholarship monies tied directly to the program. Students also must officially withdraw from the course via the Registrar’s Office, and will receive only the percentage of tuition refund due according to the course withdrawal deadlines set by University policy. Instructors should note, in turn, that their salaries will be prorated according to the above faculty salary formula, taking into account the lower number of student participants paying full tuition per credit hour. The program cannot be cancelled for reason of decrease of faculty salary after the agreed-upon deadline date has passed and program costs have been paid by Education Abroad to third-party vendors.