General Compensation Information

First-Year Seminars are compensated at $2,500/seminar. Money is allocated to each college from the Office of the Provost at the beginning of the fall semester, and from there funds are sent to applicable departments for further distribution. Departments are responsible for compensating their First-Year Seminar instructors, per the policies listed below. Of note, if an instructor teaches a seminar that is offered through University College, regardless of faculty or staff status, they will be compensated per the University College policy. This includes seminars offered as research-focused seminars, which are all offered through Undergraduate Research Studies (URES) in University College. 

University College and the Office of the Provost do not write offer letters or teaching contracts for seminars offered outside of University College. This is the responsibility of each instructor's department or academic unit. 

In the case of multiple instructors, course scheduling and funding is based on the primary instructor's status and all funding is allocated to the primary instructor's home department for distribution via their college compensation policy. 

Honors Seminars & Research-Focused Seminar Compensation Policies

First-Year Seminars may be designated as Honors, Research-Focused, both, or neither.

Honors Seminars

Honors courses (that are not research-focused) will be scheduled in the instructor's home department and follow their collegiate FYS compensation policy outlined below.

Research-Focused Seminars

All seminars offered as a research-focused seminar (both Honors and non-Honors) are scheduled in URES (a University College unit). Per the University College FYS compensation policy ALL INSTRUCTORS receive compensation in the form of a teaching stipend, paid at $2,500/seminar minus fringe/taxes. Additional information regarding the University College compensation policy is listed below. 

College Compensation Policies

Carver College of Medicine

Please contact CCOM accounting staff.

If the instructor's home department is unable to offer undergraduate courses, the seminar will be offered through University College (CSI) and the instructor(s) will be compensated by University College (see policy below).

College of Education

Instructors teaching a First-Year Seminar in the College of Education will receive a salary payment in the form of a teaching stipend. Because the total allocation for each First-Year Seminar cannot exceed $2,500, salary payments will be $2,500 less fringe expenses. Stipends are pro-rated if the course is co-taught.

College of Engineering

Instructors teaching a First-Year Seminar in the College of Engineering who are permanent, full-time tenure-track faculty will receive $2,500 in professional development or research funds for their teaching efforts directly from University College. Items purchased with these funds become property of the University of Iowa. Instructors whose primary appointment is either as an adjunct faculty member or P&S employee will receive a salary payment in the form of a teaching stipend and will be paid via an adjunct faculty appointment in University College. Because the total allocation for each First-Year Seminar cannot exceed $2,500, salary payments will be $2,500 less fringe expenses unless the appointing department of the adjunct faculty member or P&S employee may opt to cover the fringe expenses so the salary payment for such individuals is $2,500. Stipends are pro-rated if the course is co-taught. Graduate students, fellows, residents, or associates, and merit staff are not eligible to teach a First-Year Seminar. Instructors who teach an Honors or Research-Focused seminar should follow their respective college’s allocation policy; funds will be distributed to their home college and department for said allocation.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Please see the full CLAS FYS funding policy here.

Instructors teaching a First-Year Seminar in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) who are permanent, full-time tenure-track faculty will receive $2,500 in professional development or research funds for their teaching efforts directly from CLAS. Items purchased with these funds become property of the University of Iowa. First Year Seminar funds may not be used to purchase food or alcohol. Instructors whose primary appointment is less than 100%, an adjunct faculty member, or P&S employee will receive a salary payment. Graduate students, fellows, residents, or associates, and merit staff are not eligible to teach a First-Year Seminar

College of Public Health

Please contact College of Public Health accounting staff.

College of Pharmacy

Instructors teaching a First-Year Seminar in the College of Pharmacy who are permanent, full-time tenure-track or clinical-track faculty will receive $2,500 in professional development or research funds for their teaching efforts directly from the college. All purchases are subject to University of Iowa purchasing policies. Items purchased with FYS funds become property of the University. More information can be found in the UI Operations Manual or by calling the Accounts Payable, Purchasing, and Travel Department at (319) 335-0115.

Tippie College of Business

Please contact TCOB accounting staff.

University College 

All instructors whose seminar is offered through University College (academic units of URES/CSI), regardless of faculty or staff status, receive a salary payment in the form of a teaching stipend, and will be paid via an adjunct faculty appointment in University College. All instructors will receive a teaching contract for their FYS prior to the start of the fall semester from University College. Because the total allocation for each First-Year Seminar cannot exceed $2,500, salary payments will be $2,500/seminar less fringe expenses. Seminars that are co-taught will have compensation split equally among instructors.