Quality Matters Course Review Process and Guidelines at MCCCD
Quality Matters (QM) is a nationally recognized, research-based, faculty-centered, peer review process that acknowledges the quality design of online/hybrid courses. The QM Program was originally developed by a US Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) grant. The main outcomes of the grant were a set of review criteria based on research literature and national standards that were incorporated into a rubric with annotations. Additionally, the grant laid out the process for conducting team course reviews and the framework for faculty professional development. This rubric is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect researched best practices in online education.
The QM Process at MCCCD
As a Maricopa Community College, Phoenix College is part of a district-wide Quality Matters initiative and program. Each college has designated Quality Matters Coordinators who oversee QM-related activities, answer QM questions and facilitate the course review application process for that campus. In addition, the District has Course Review Managers who coordinate the QM process at the District level including the acceptance of courses for review and assembly of the Peer Review Teams.
As a Maricopa Community College, Phoenix College is part of a district-wide Quality Matters initiative and program. Each college has designated Quality Matters Coordinators who oversee QM-related activities, answer QM questions and facilitate the course review application process for that campus. In addition, the District has Course Review Managers who coordinate the QM process at the District level including the acceptance of courses for review and assembly of the Peer Review Teams.
PC’s Quality Matter Coordinators (QMC)MCCCD’s QM Course Review Managers (CRM) |
Guidelines (or Steps) for a QM Review
We have outlined the general guidelines (or steps) to navigate the QM process at MCCCD. Please note the timeframes are estimates and will vary based on your pace, the number of course reviews pending and the availability of a subject matter expert to serve on your review.
We have outlined the general guidelines (or steps) to navigate the QM process at MCCCD. Please note the timeframes are estimates and will vary based on your pace, the number of course reviews pending and the availability of a subject matter expert to serve on your review.
Step 1
Preparing for the QM Review
The Course Representative should complete the following to verify and ensure their course is ready to undergo the QM Peer Review Process.
The Course Representative should complete the following to verify and ensure their course is ready to undergo the QM Peer Review Process.
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Timeframe for this step: Varies based on Course Representative schedule.
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Step 2
Peer Review Team Assembly
Upon review of the application, a Peer Review Team will be assembled by the MCCCD CRM using the MCCCD Peer Review pool. The team will consist of:
Upon review of the application, a Peer Review Team will be assembled by the MCCCD CRM using the MCCCD Peer Review pool. The team will consist of:
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NOTE: It may take time to assemble the Peer Review Team since there is a limited amount of Master Reviewers as well as SME’s. Additionally, reviewers are volunteers and must finish their reviews before committing to review another course.
Timeframe for this step: Varies based on availability of Peer Reviewers.
Timeframe for this step: Varies based on availability of Peer Reviewers.
Step 3
Course Information Worksheet and Course Access
The MCCCD CRM will register the course and the Peer Review Team into the QM system. Upon completion of registration, the college QMC (QM Coordinator) will notify the Course Representative the team has been assembled, who the members of the team are, and the formal review can begin. At this point the Course Representative must complete the following:
The MCCCD CRM will register the course and the Peer Review Team into the QM system. Upon completion of registration, the college QMC (QM Coordinator) will notify the Course Representative the team has been assembled, who the members of the team are, and the formal review can begin. At this point the Course Representative must complete the following:
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Step 4
Timeframe for this step: 1-2 weeks.
The Peer Review Process
The Master Reviewer will contact the Peer Review members and the Course Representative for a conference call to discuss the time frame and process for the review. The Course Representative may also be contacted by the Master Reviewer throughout the review to clarify any questions or concerns.
The Master Reviewer will contact the Peer Review members and the Course Representative for a conference call to discuss the time frame and process for the review. The Course Representative may also be contacted by the Master Reviewer throughout the review to clarify any questions or concerns.
Timeframe for this step: Active review 3 weeks.
Step 5
The Decision and Post Review Period
Upon completion of the Peer Review, QM and the Master Reviewer will contact the Course Representative and notify them of the review outcome.
Upon completion of the Peer Review, QM and the Master Reviewer will contact the Course Representative and notify them of the review outcome.
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Timeframe for this step: The Post Review period is 1 week and revisions (if required) must be complete within 14 weeks.
Remember, the goal of QM is to have all courses meet expectations!