Online Course Design Quality Review

The Florida Board of Governor's Online Education 2025 Strategic Plan identifies several strategic goals focused on quality practices. Beginning in 2019, online courses that have completed a course design quality review will be tagged with a Quality designation in the FloridaShines course catalog. The system goal is to increase the number of online courses in the State University System that have a Quality designation. To work toward increasing the number of online courses with a Quality designation, CIRT facilitates two optional levels of course design quality reviews designated as Quality (Q) and High Quality (HQ). Both levels use the nationally recognized, research-based Quality Matters standards for the review of online course design.

Quality Matters (QM)

Quality Designations

Course Design Quality Review

Course Design Refresh

Quality Matters (QM)

UNF is committed to implementing the Quality Matters (QM) standards for the review of online course design, and systematically builds and evaluates online courses based on QM's rigorous, research-based standards. The QM Standards specifically focus on course design, rather than on course delivery or academic content, and assure that the structure of online courses promotes learner engagement and provide students with tools and information they need to be successful learners. A founding principle that continues to drive QM is the need for standards to reflect current academic research on effective learning. The initial QM Standards and subsequent modifications are based on the insights of teams of experienced online instructors and instructional designers and on the best practices standards promulgated by accrediting bodies and national and international organizations. In addition, the QM Standards have been examined for consistency with the conclusions of the educational research literature regarding factors that increase learning and engagement and that improve learner retention rates. Each specific QM Standard is centered on relevant research and supported by literature from the field. For more information, visit what you need to know about QM. 

Quality Matters™ has provided an overview presentation (pdf slides) for those interested. This information is also available at the QM Subscriber Benefits page. 

QM-Certified Reviewers

Critical to UNF’s implementation of Quality Matters is the assistance of QM-Certified faculty members that participate in the course design quality review process at UNF. Any full-time faculty member that has successfully completed a quality review of their own course is eligible to register for the online QM training courses (CIRT will pay fees) to become a certified QM-certified peer reviewer. Visit the Become a QM Certified Peer Reviewer page for more information.

Quality Designations

The main differences between the two optional levels of online course design reviews designated as Quality (Q) and High Quality (HQ) is in the number of course reviewers and the number of QM standards met. While instructors may opt to participate in either level of review, we encourage instructors to pursue the HQ designation. Both are significant accomplishments that mean a course has been designed to meet rigorous, research-based standards of course design.

View list of UNF's QM Reviewed Courses that have successfully completed a course design quality review.

Course Design Quality Review

To increase quality and accessibility, and reduce barriers to student success, faculty are encouraged to submit their online course for review and receive the HQ designation (see above). Any UNF faculty member may submit his/her course for review, however, only those who have completed the TOL Foundation Course (TOL-TRACK A) and developed their course as part of TOL-DCD or Program Transition will be eligible to receive a stipend upon successful completion of the review process.

Note: If you are unsure whether your course meets the criteria for a course review, please schedule a consultation with an instructional designer.

How it works?

• When your course is ready for review, submit the UNF Course Design Quality Review Form
• Within 2-3 weeks, the QM certified reviewers will submit their feedback and through a continuous improvement process the course will be modified until it meets all of the required quality standards.
• Upon successful completion of the course review, you will receive a $2000 stipend and the course will be listed on UNF's QM Reviewed Courses with a HQ designation.

Course Design Refresh

Courses listed on UNF's QM Reviewed Courses page are eligible for a course design refresh after five years, or within a five-year period if course modifications have been approved by the university Academic Programs Committee (APC). This policy is based on the assertion that within a five-year period, most online courses will have likely undergone major changes due to technology enhancement, newer instructional materials, and changes to course design.

Note: If you are unsure whether your course meets the criteria for a course refresh, please schedule a consultation with an instructional designer.

How it works?

• When your course is ready for a refresh (see criteria above), complete the online application. You will also need to secure your chair’s approval to offer the course in a distance learning format during the next academic year. Download the Chair Approval Form and have it signed by the academic department chair and returned to CIRT by email to cirtlab@unf.edu or by campus mail to Tina Stanton, CIRT, 10/1120.
• Once your application has been verified, you will be contacted by a a member of the instructional design team to start the process of getting your online course ready for another course design quality review.
• Upon successful completion of a course design refresh, you will receive a $1000 stipend and the course will be updated on UNF's QM Reviewed Courses with a new completion date and HQ designation.

For questions about UNF's online course design quality review process, please email kevin.hulen@unf.edu