Course Development Process

To ensure value and relevance of continuing education offerings, SAA's Committee on Education:

  • Accepts proposals for new courses and webcasts on an ongoing basis. Note: The deadline for proposals for pre-conference courses is in January of each year.
  • Seeks input from appropriate groups about content, format and potential instructors
  • Publishes the Proposal Evaluation Form and guidelines for an ideal proposal on its website to encourage submissions with sufficient content for effective evaluation by the Committee on Education
  • Reviews proposals with the aid of specific topic experts using standard review forms
  • Serves as liaisons to audit courses and exams for quality, content and relevance

Proposals for new education programs may be developed with specific groups in mind or for the broader SAA audience. Courses that expand upon or enhance SAA's existing educational offerings are particularly welcome. For a complete listing of SAA programs, visit the Continuing Education Catalog.

Educational offerings may be presented the following formats:

  • In-Person Courses: Intensive, problem-focused learning experience that actively involves up to 35 learners in a face-to-face classroom type setting. Some courses require participants to pass an examination to earn credit for SAA's A&D and/or DAS Certificate Programs. Travel is required.
  • Self-Paced Online Courses: A virtual learning opportunity in which learners view a series of recorded videos, participate in exercises such as quizzes, games, DIY assignments, and complete an exam or other assignment to earn a course certificate. Learners may complete the course on their own schedule. No travel is required.
  • Instructor Facilitated Online Courses: A virtual learning opportunity in which learners join an instructor for a live presentation (similar to a webcast) at a set time each day or week for the duration of the course. This type of online course allows for exercises or assignments to be completed between each session, and for live discussion with instructors and other learners throughout the duration of the learning experience. No travel is required.
  • Webcasts: Short (90-minutes or less) virtual learning opportunities that allow instructors to present key takeaways and applications in a short presentation while interacting with learners via webcam, live chat, polling and Q&A. No travel is required.

We encourage potential course developers and instructors to view the Guidelines for Archival Continuing Education (ACE), or to contact SAA's Director of Education, Rana Salzmann, with questions about any part of this process.