Quality Matters

UCET offers funded opportunities that support IUSB's commitment to excellence and quality in online education through Quality Matters Links to an external site., a nationally recognized, faculty-centered, peer review process designed to certify the quality of online and hybrid 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).

Learn about Quality Matters

These introductory sessions are offered on a regular basis. Check out the UCET Events Listing Links to an external site. for upcoming Quality Matters events or contact Anna (ama9@iu.edu) to inquire about individual consultations or asynchronous options.

Quality Matters information sessions

Learn how Quality Matters can help you improve the quality of your courses and about the funding opportunities at IU South Bend. Hear first-hand from other faculty about their experiences with the course certification and peer review process.

Quality Matters @ IU (Applying the Quality Matters Rubric)

The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) Links to an external site. workshop is QM's flagship workshop on the QM Rubric and its use in reviewing the design of online and hybrid courses. It is intended for a broad audience, including but not limited to faculty, instructional designers, administrators, and adjunct instructors. The APPQMR is the prerequisite for the Peer Reviewer Course.

The APPQMR is available as an all-day, face-to-face workshop at IU South Bend or as an asynchronous 2-week online course through Quality Matters. It is free for all IU South Bend faculty, staff, and administrators and is eligible for Learn & Earn funding for associate faculty.

Improving Your Online Course (IYOC)

The Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) Links to an external site. workshop explores the QM Rubric and provides a framework to improve the quality of online courses. Participants use the QM Rubric to review their own online courses and develop a course improvement plan. The content is based on the essential Specific Review Standards of the Quality Matters Rubric. Enrolling in the workshop with a pre-developed online course is required.

The IYOC is offered in a variety of formats at IU South Bend and is free for all faculty, staff, and administrators. This workshop is eligible for Learn & Earn funding for associate faculty.

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. Contact Anna (ama9@iu.edu) if you would like to begin the course certification process.

Self-Review | $1,000

Prerequisites:

  • Completed Course Design programming (institute or badge) through UCET or the Foundational Modules Certificate of Teaching for Student Success Links to an external site.
  • Completed the Quality Matters at IU (APPQMR) or Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop
  • Note from department Chair that this course will be offered again

Prepare your course for review by creating a Course Map and independently reviewing your course using the Quality Matters Rubric. You will gain experience using the Course Review Management System used in internal and official reviews and will prepare all the materials needed for course certification. You will receive personalized support and recommendations to prepare your course for the review process.

Internal Review | $2,000

Prerequisites:

  • Completed the requirements of the Self-Review (above)
  • Taught the course at least once

Your course will be reviewed by two trained Peer Reviewers at IU South Bend. You'll receive feedback on your course design and gain experience with the QM review process. 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!

Official Quality Matters Review | $1,500

Prerequisites:

  • Completed the requirements of the Internal Review (above)
  • Taught the course at least twice

In an official QM review, your course will be reviewed by three trained, certified faculty Peer Reviewers 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 the total available points.

Become a Peer Reviewer

After completing the APPQMR, you can develop additional expertise 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 IU South Bend and other institutions. Training is available to all faculty who have taught online within the last 18 months and consists of the intensive three-week online Peer Reviewer Course Links to an external site. through Quality Matters. Peer Reviewers who have completed at least two official reviews can become Master Reviewers.

Peer reviewers can earn...

  • $500 for certification
  • $225 for each internal review at IUSB
  • Additional stipends for reviews conducted through Quality Matters

Master Reviewers can earn...

  • Additional stipends for reviews conducted through Quality Matters

Contact Anna (ama9@iu.edu) if you would like to learn more about becoming a Peer Reviewer.