Quality Matters Launches Advisory and Consulting Service
A new service from Quality Matters, the nonprofit focused on quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments, is designed to help colleges and universities develop a sustainable online learning strategy. QM Consulting will provide hands-on consulting, research, advisory, and strategic planning services for institutions at any stage of their online learning journey, the organization said in a news announcement.
Drawing on Quality Matters' established methodologies, QM Consulting will offer customized support in areas such as enhancing faculty and student success, building internal quality assurance frameworks to meet accreditation standards, and the development of competitive online programs that prioritize quality. The goal: to help create sustainable, high-impact online learning programs that drive student success and institutional performance.
"Shifting demographics and mounting financial pressures are challenging institutions to rethink traditional models and adapt to an evolving market. While nearly every college and university is now thinking seriously about using online and digital learning, many are struggling with where to begin," said Dr. Deb Adair, CEO of Quality Matters, in a statement. "This is about giving institutions the practical guidance and hands-on advice to build online programs that aren't just responsive to student demand, but also deliver high-impact, high-quality learning experiences."
The new consulting arm will be led by Dr. Rachael Brooks, who recently joined Quality Matters from her most recent role as director of e-learning at North Carolina Central University, and Dr. Bethany Simunich, vice president of innovation and research at Quality Matters, co-director of the CHLOE research project, and former director of online pedagogy and research at Kent State Online.
"Many institutions have begun offering online versions of their most popular on-campus courses, but fewer have tapped into the transformative potential that high-quality, engaging online programs can deliver across their entire curriculum," said Simunich. "The real opportunity — and challenge — lies in leveraging online education not just as an add-on, but as a strategic asset that can redefine an institution's value proposition and ensure its long-term viability."
For more information, visit the Quality Matters site.
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].