“Assuring faculty that a subject matter expert is on every review, the Rubric is grounded in excellent design practices that promote quality teaching and learning, and that there is a support structure around them, has been very helpful in communicating the adoption.”Gina Rue, Senior Instructional Designer for VU’s Center for Innovation in Teaching, Assessment, and Learning
Valparaiso University (VU) joined QM in 2023 and has taken full advantage of its QM membership, incorporating QM professional development, reviews, member resources, and more into its online learning program. As part of the institution’s Higher Learning Commission Quality Initiative, Valparaiso has worked to develop more consistent courses and stronger faculty skills by leveraging QM products and services. Already, the institution has seen positive feedback from faculty and meaningful updates to courses. Valparaiso shared a few ways it is using QM to succeed in online education.
Professional Development
Professional development is the area of VU’s deepest investment in QM. The institution began its membership with three independent Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) sessions. Two years later, 30 VU faculty have completed one or more QM workshops. This includes the certification of four QM-Certified Peer Reviewers, two QM-Certified Facilitators, a QMC, a Course Review Manager, and more currently pursuing certifications, including one faculty member working on their Master Reviewer Certification.
The institution has also offered the QM Higher Ed Teaching Online Certificate to its faculty, with four having completed the certification and two more working toward this goal. VU will be offering three APPQMR sessions this summer, deepening its faculty’s familiarity with QM Standards. With so many offerings, Quality Matters has become embedded in the language of course design and delivery at the institution.
Reviews
VU has now begun engaging with QM Course Reviews, beginning with Self Reviews. Faculty at the institution have shown appreciation for these, with many using the lessons learned through their Self Reviews to make modifications that bring their courses into better alignment with QM Standards. The institution is now beginning to prepare a small number of courses to be submitted for QM Certification, and hopes to eventually achieve Program Certification.
Why such investment? The institution sees QM’s use of research-supported best practices and subject matter experts as a critical piece of its quality strategy. “Assuring faculty that a subject matter expert is on every review, the QM Rubric is grounded in excellent design practices that promote quality teaching and learning, and that there is a support structure around them, has been very helpful in communicating the adoption,” said Gina Rue, Senior Instructional Designer for VU’s Center for Innovation in Teaching, Assessment, and Learning.
Member Resources
Another way VU takes advantage of its membership is by engaging with free member resources. The team attends the monthly Quality Matters Success Stories webinars available to members, featuring stories of how member institutions are developing their own best practices and using continuous improvement to bring higher standards of quality to their learners.
The Market Advantage of QM
Finally, Valparaiso knows that quality matters to more than faculty and learners. Avoiding the ”quiet quality” named in the 2023 CHLOE 9 Report, VU has made sure to publicize its engagement with Quality Matters. Staff members showcase their professional development achievements with QM badges in their email signatures, and the institution has published articles on its website explaining what QM is and how its QM membership improves online educational quality. This public acknowledgement of its membership can serve to inspire prospective students, investors and other stakeholders.
Whether your institution is just starting out with QM or deep into a multi-year quality journey, there’s always more you can do to take advantage of all the benefits of your QM membership. Want more ideas? Reach out to us today.
