Student Course Development Projects : Funding : Teaching Center : University of Rochester

Student Course Development Projects

Student Course Development Projects (SCDP) provide funding for instructors to work with an undergraduate student mentee who will co-create new course content, learning materials, or learning activities. For instance, an instructor might collaborate with a student to build collections of homework problems or in-class examples, design and test lab activities, or develop online learning materials. The instructor is not paid; the award funds the participating student's stipend and optional on-campus summer housing, as well as up to $500 for project expenses.

Under the mentorship of the instructor, the student engages in a project conceived as sufficient to fill six dedicated summer weeks. This occurs during the summer preceding the academic year in which the instructor plans to use the student’s project output in a course.

The instructor must be available for hands-on oversight of the project during the period when the student is participating. The instructor is expected to provide structure, direction, feedback, and mentorship to the student throughout the project.

Student Course Development Showcase

The instructor-student teams who complete projects in summer 2026 will be presenting posters at the Student Course Development Project Showcase, tentatively scheduled for February 5, 2027, from 2-3:30 pm on the River Campus. All University of Rochester community members are welcome. Instructors intending to apply for summer 2027 projects are encouraged to attend to learn more about the range of possible projects.

Selecting Proposals

Successful proposals require the student to think critically about how learning works in the instructor's course, and to work creatively and collaboratively with the instructor to design activities and/or produce materials that enhance that learning. In addition, we prefer, although do not require, that the instructor include in the proposal a plan for the assessment, when deployed, of the activities or materials produced by the student.

In its award decisions, the Teaching Center will prioritize projects that will advance student learning in the course in which the materials will be used. The center will also evaluate whether projects will provide a substantive, well-structured, and well-mentored research experience for the participating undergraduate student.

Award Elements

Awards may include:

$3,960 student stipend. In rare instances, two students may be requested due to project scope.
Optionally, six weeks of on-campus summer housing for the student during the project
If approved, up to $500 for materials or other expenses related to the project

There will be three available project time blocks during the 2026 summer. The summer 2026 dates will be May 18 to June 27, May 31 to July 11, or June 21 to August 1.

Both instructor and student participants must complete assessment activities to assist the Teaching Center in evaluating and improving the program, as well as create and present a poster for a culminating poster session.

Instructor obligations:

Hands-on oversight and mentorship of the student’s summer project
Implementation of the student’s project output in a course the following year
An instructor-written report completed at the end of the summer project
An instructor-completed survey partway through the course implementation (either fall or spring semester)
Specific instructor-written sections of a poster that the instructor co-presents jointly with the student at an in-person spring semester poster session (most likely February 5, 2027, from 2-3:30 pm; for instructors who are in residence and don't have an unavoidable conflict)

Students must complete:

Completion of the project specified by the instructor
A student-completed survey at the end of the summer project
Specific student-written sections of a poster that the student completes during the summer and co-presents jointly with the instructor at an in-person spring semester poster session (most likely February 5, 2027, from 2-3:30 pm; for students who are in residence and don't have an unavoidable conflict)

For the poster, student-instructor pairs will collaborate to each write specific sections of a poster outlining the student’s project and the instructor’s implementation (executed or planned) of their project output in the course. If on campus during spring semester, participating students and instructors are required to present their posters jointly at an in-person spring semester poster session (most likely February 5, 2027, from 2-3:30 pm) for the program. If either or both have unavoidable conflicts with the poster session time, they can have their poster included in the poster session without being at the session to present it themselves.

Applying

To apply for a Student Course Development Project, please complete the application available through the application portal. It consists of a Word document that you download and complete in advance, as well as an online form that includes a space to upload the completed Word document. In addition, you will need a letter from your department or program chair stating that the course will be offered in 2026-2027 and that you will be the course instructor. All three components are accessed and submitted through the application portal.

The application portal is closed and will reopen for summer 2027 applications in November 2026.

The deadline for summer 2026 projects was March 23, 2026. Funding decisions will be announced by April 10, 2026.

Student Logistics

If you are a continuing undergraduate student who has been approached by an instructor about a potential Student Course Development Project, these are some of the logistics that might help you decide whether this program is a fit for you. Students cannot apply directly. Undergraduates who are not continuing at the University of Rochester, including graduating seniors, and graduate students are not eligible for this program.

Project Elements. The project itself will be directed by the instructor, who can describe its scope. In addition, students are required to complete a Teaching Center survey towards the end of the summer project. This allows the center to assess whether the Student Course Development Project program is meeting its goals. Finally, students and their instructor partners are required to co-develop a poster for which they each write specific sections. You will complete your section during the summer, and, if you are on campus during spring semester, you will co-present it with your instructor at an in-person spring semester poster session showcase (most likely in February). Both the survey and the poster also provide students with structured reflection opportunities.
Time period. There are three fixed time periods during which projects can occur. No changes are permitted. The summer 2026 dates will be May 18 to June 27, May 31 to July 11, or June 21 to August 1.
Remote participation. Due to the need for close collaboration with an instructor, the project must be completed in the Rochester region. Remote participation from other locations is not permitted.
Stipend. SCDP distributes its funding as a $3,960 student research stipend, so you do not time clock for this position. As stipends are distributed according to the University of Rochester semi-monthly schedule at the end of each half-month period, keep in mind for budgeting purposes that there will be a delay between the start of your project and the first distribution. You can register for direct deposit in Workday, where you may also do other logistical tasks. Note that the university typically lumps all distributions into a single disbursement, so you may not see a discrete amount for this stipend if you also receive other URochester distributions related to other endeavors.
Summer housing. The program will provide for six weeks of on-campus summer housing through Residential Life during the project period. If you elect to use this housing, the summer housing registration form should include three selections with the name of this program—one for each of the three available date ranges. Be sure to select the correct date range for your project. Meal plans are not included. Students who wish to extend their stay beyond the six weeks offered by the program must work independently with Residential Life on any related logistics and payment. If you extend your stay, please examine your housing bill carefully, and contact the Teaching Center in the unlikely event that you have been billed for the portion covered by the project. No funding is available for off-campus housing, and no parking is provided.
Graduating seniors and graduate students. Only continuing undergraduate students are eligible for this program. Undergraduates who are not continuing at the University of Rochester, including graduating seniors, and graduate students are not eligible.
Reimbursements. If your SCDP project includes a materials budget, such costs will generally be administered directly by the Teaching Center through its PCard (example: book purchases will be placed directly by the Teaching Center). In rare instances typically related to transportation, students may directly incur costs that are later reimbursed. Such direct costs must be cleared in advance with both the Teaching Center and instructor, as well as documented through receipts. You may also need to complete direct deposit for reimbursements in Workday.

Support

Teaching Center staff can support instructors in designing projects, preparing proposals, and identifying students to participate in projects. If you have any questions about the program or would like assistance, please contact the Teaching Center.