The University of Minnesota Crookston Business Department has established an Online Course Quality Assurance Committee to ensure the high standards of online course quality within the department, inspired by the Quality Matters (QM) framework. QM is a non-profit organization that promotes the quality of online education through a comprehensive review and certification process.
The committee’s review process follows the Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric, which includes eight key standards:
- Course overview and introduction
- Learning objectives
- Assessment and measurement
- Instructional materials
- Course activities and learner interaction
- Course technology
- Learner support
- Accessibility and usability
The committee, composed of faculty members, oversees reviews for business department online courses, ensuring they meet these standards. A review is initiated under various circumstances, such as developing a new course, significant changes in course content or outcomes, changes in delivery method (e.g., on-campus to online), or when a new instructor is introduced with substantial course content revisions. In the past year, 16 business courses meeting this criteria were reviewed.
After a review is completed, feedback is provided to the instructor. If significant improvements are needed, the department head collaborates with the faculty member to assist them in making the required changes. New faculty members also receive the quality review checklist as a resource to help them design their online courses, with mentorship from experienced colleagues. Additionally, the U of M Crookston Information Technology Department offers support and training on the Canvas learning platform.
This process ensures that the Business Department’s online courses maintain a high level of quality, benefiting both faculty and students.
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