Northeastern Illinois University has earned Quality Matters (QM) Certification for course design quality following a rigorous review process for nine of its online courses. The QM Certification Mark is the internationally recognized symbol of online and blended course design quality and represents Northeastern's ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide students with a clear pathway to success.
The online courses were developed as part of the Center for Teaching and Learning’s Online Course Quality Initiative, led by Coordinator of Learning Innovations Liz Rodriguez.
“The certification is the result of our faculty’s hard work and dedication to designing high-quality, student-centered online courses” Rodriguez said.
Assistant Professor of Sociology Juan Martinez earned QM Certification for his course SOC: 316: Race and Ethnic Relations.
"I earned Quality Matters Certification because I wanted to create a positive online learning experience for my Race and Ethnic Relations course,” Martinez said. “Earning the certification also supports my students in meeting the course learning outcomes."
Assistant Professor of Literacy, Leadership and Development Noreen Powers earned QM Certification for LEAD 421: Educational Leadership and Organizational Analysis.
“The year-long initiative allowed faculty to develop the specific skills needed in order to design, plan and execute learning objectives and learning strategies, learn theories behind course development and pedagogy, create and repurpose course content in keeping with best practices and copyright law, and create a community within online and hybrid courses,” Powers said.
The seven other professors and courses to earn QM certification are:
- A. David Farmer Jr., PSYC 412: Psychopathology of the Elderly
- Aneta Galary, SOC 105: Social Inequalities and Social Change
- Lisa Hollis-Sawyer, PSYC 401: Gerontology: An Overview
- Erika Husby, SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology
- Tracy Luedke, ANTH 317: Medical Anthropology
- Rose Sperrazza, MUS 331: Applied Music Pedagogy I
- Brian Vivona, HRD 400: HRD and the Organization
These courses are now listed on the QM-Certified course directory.
The QM Official Review provided independent validation of the high-quality, learner-focused course design found in online courses. Reviews are conducted by QM-Certified Reviewers and use the Quality Matters Rubric and associated Standards, which are based on research and best practices. A course earns the QM Certification Mark once it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85% threshold or better and meets all Essential Standards.
