Quality Matters

In its continuing efforts to bring high quality online and hybrid teaching and learning experiences to North Park University, the Office of Distributed Learning (ODL) is excited to announce its recent membership to the nationally recognized Quality Matters (QM) quality assurance program for online and hybrid course development. Additionally, North Park is one of the first schools to receive official recognition from Quality Matters for a formal QM implementation plan developed under their guidance. Through this plan, North Park develops all new online and hybrid courses according to QM standards. The process consists of utilizing a nationally-recognized, research-based rubric to guide all of its online and hybrid course creation and development. A peer review team consisting of three certified Quality Matters reviewers from North Park’s ODL staff and trained faculty reviews and measures each new course according to these stringent QM quality standards. Overall, the process helps faculty to develop high quality online and hybrid courses, consistently across all schools and departments.

Leading our QM certified team of reviewers is Jennifer Henrikson, Quality Matters Program Coordinator. Joining her as a QM team member from the ODL staff is Sonja Strahl, Instructional Design and Learner Support Specialist. In addition to Jenny and Sonja, we are pleased to name Anita Ross and Judy Donor as the first two faculty members to begin participating on this team. Both Anita and Judy have extensive experience in both developing and teaching online courses over the past several years.

In today’s day and age, with accreditation requirements moving to the forefront of university concerns, it’s important to note that the Quality Matters review process is consistent with a majority of the Best Practices standards adopted by the accrediting agencies and listed in "Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs," endorsed by CHEA. By developing and reviewing all new online and hybrid courses according to the QM standards, North Park is working to ensure that our online courses and programs meet accreditation requirements and to ensure a highly rewarding online learning experience for our students.