Quality Matters Course Development and Certification

UCET offers funded opportunities that support IUSB's commitment to excellence and quality in online education through Quality Matters, a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the quality of online and blended courses to promote student learning. Quality Matters tools can help you through every stage of the course planning, design, delivery, and evaluation process so that you can spend more time discussing content with your students, rather than helping them with administrative tasks.

These programs are available to all lecturer line and tenure line faculty, including clinical tracks. Funding for adjunct and visiting faculty must be approved by their unit head.

For grant application information and to learn more about upcoming opportunities, contact Quality Matters Coordinator, Anna Michelle Martinez-Montavon (574-520-4529 or ama9@iu.edu)

Certify Your Course

QM certification is a rigorous, nationally recognized process. Our three-tiered program will provide the support you need to prepare your course for certification.

Tier 1: Course Design Institute
Every Spring | $1,000

A semester-long institute where you design a new online course or convert a face-to-face course to online. You'll apply Quality Matters principles to course design and build community with others who care about creating high-quality online learning experiences for our students. To receive funding, the course you are designing must be approved in CARMin or by the relevant department chair. You'll also complete the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric workshop. Faculty members can join the CDI to develop online or face-to-face courses without applying for the grant.

Funded faculty course developers sign a memorandum of understanding.

Learn more about IU Online Class Connect. If you are interested in developing and teaching an IUOCC course, please speak with your department chair.

Tier 2: Internal Review Cohort
Every Fall | $2,000

Prepare your course for official QM review with a group of your peers. You'll receive feedback on your course design and gain experience with the QM review process. To join the Internal Review Cohort, you must have taught the course at least once and completed the Course Design Institute (or have completed the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric workshop and conducted a self-review of your course). Faculty can apply for an internal review without joining the cohort and applying for the grant. Once your course meets expectations for the internal review, you will have completed the bulk of the work needed for an official QM review and possible QM certification!

Tier 3: Official Quality Matters Review
Rolling | $1,500

In an official QM review, your course will be reviewed by three trained, certified faculty peers who are all experienced online faculty, including a subject matter expert and at least one external reviewer. To receive QM Certification as a quality course, a course must meet all essential QM Rubric Standards and score at least 85% of total available points. Your course is eligible for an official QM review if you have taught it for at least two semesters and have successfully completed an internal review.

Become a Peer Reviewer

Develop additional expertise and earn $500 by becoming a certified QM Peer Reviewer. As a Peer Reviewer, you will help your colleagues improve their online courses and can receive additional stipends for conducting QM reviews for IUSB and other institutions. Training is available to all faculty who have taught online within the last 18 months and consists of an intensive three-week online course. Interested in being a Peer Reviewer and helping your colleagues grow? Learn more about Quality Matters training opportunities.