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. Racheal 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.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • image of a white AI chip with circuit lines, flanked by interlocking gears and a neural network brain icon

    Researchers Develop AI-Powered Method for Business Process Redesign

    Researchers have developed a novel AI-powered approach that enables non-technical users to modify complex process models through simple conversations with chatbots.

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.

  • college students in a classroom focus on a silver laptop, with a neural network diagram on the monitor in the background

    Report: 93% of Students Believe Gen AI Training Belongs in Degree Programs

    The vast majority of today's college students — 93% — believe generative AI training should be included in degree programs, according to a recent Coursera report. What's more, 86% of students consider gen AI the most crucial technical skill for career preparation, prioritizing it above in-demand skills such as data strategy and software development.

  • university building surrounded by icons for AI, checklists, and data governance

    Improving AI Governance for Stronger University Compliance and Innovation

    AI can generate valuable insights for higher education institutions and it can be used to enhance the teaching process itself. The caveat is that this can only be achieved when universities adopt a strategic and proactive set of data and process management policies for their use of AI.