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Quality Courses

What is Quality Matters?

The Quality Matters program is a faculty-centered, peer review process to certify the quality of online courses and online components. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received national recognition for its faculty-centered approach to continuous improvement in online education. West Virginia University became a member of Quality Matters in February 2012.

Courses at WVU can undergo one of two types of Quality Matters reviews.

Internal Reviews

In AY 2016-17, WVU moved all of its internal reviews to Quality Matters' MyCustomReviews system.

Courses that seek to go through WVU's internal review can simply submit their course for review and WVU's QM Coordinator(s) will assist with the process as needed.

WVU now also encourages colleges, schools, departments, or academic programs to modify the Quality Matters rubric and course worksheet to reflect their individual needs. Colleges, schools, departments, or academic programs interested in learning more about developing their own custom reviews should request assistance.

Official Reviews

Official reviews are conducted by certified Quality Matters reviewers that are external to WVU. These reviews cost the academic unit $450 per course and can be initiated by request.


Quality Matters Rubric

The Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric (Fifth Edition) consists of 8 general standards and 43 specific criteria that describe best practices in online and blended course design. The QM process is designed to be continuous, centered, collegial, and collaborative. The rubric is based on best practices that promote student learning and effective instructional design principles. The rubric is supported by a thorough review of the literature and is updated every three years to reflect new techniques and technologies that have become available.

QM Higher Education Rubric