Quality Matters (QM)™ is a faculty-centered, peer review process that is designed to certify the quality of online and hybrid/blended courses. QM is a leader in quality assurance for online education and has received international recognition for its peer-based approach and continuous improvement in online education and student learning.
In direct alignment with UAB’s Forging the Future Strategic Plan and direction regarding education, a Quality Matters (QM) Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) has been approved for three (3) years, and it will run Fall 2022 through Summer 2025. As a result, a stipend of $3,000 per course designed and officially QM-certified will be distributed for each instructor. Beginning in Fall 2022, the stipend will be disbursed to the school/college for faculty professional development in two (2) phases as follows:
- Phase One: $1,500 upon submission of the course for a QM official review certification
- Phase Two: $1,500 upon QM official review certification
Twenty (20) online courses will be selected each academic year to receive a stipend. While emphasis will be placed on online courses within the new Blazer Core Curriculum and courses with high enrollments, everyone teaching online courses is encouraged to submit a request for a QM official course certification. Please note that while only twenty (20) online courses will be selected each academic year to receive a stipend, additional online/blended courses can be submitted for QM official review certification at no cost to the school/department/faculty.
Course reviews submitted to QM prior to August 1, 2022 are not eligible for the stipend.
What should you do next?
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Work with an Instructional Designer
An Instructional Designer will help you prepare your online course for a QM official review. Schedule a consultation with an Instructional Designer.
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Attend the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) Workshop
Learn how to apply the Quality Matters (QM) Rubric for the design of online and blended courses. Attending the workshop will help you to prepare your course for a QM official review as well as incorporate the feedback you will receive from the reviewers. Register for the APPQMR workshop or request the workshop for your department/academic program. At least six (6) registrants are required in order to facilitate the workshop. -
Submit a Request for QM Official Course Review
To get started, please review the QM Official Review Process and submit a request for a QM Official Review when ready. If you have any questions, please email qualitymatters@uab.edu.
QM Rubric
Based on research and best practices, the QM Rubric is a set of standards used to evaluate the design of online and/or hybrid courses. The Rubric explains the application of the standards and the relationship among them. A scoring system and set of online tools facilitate the evaluation by a team of reviewers.
Course Review Process
Quality Matters promotes peer review process and provides a database of Certified QM Peer Reviewers eligible for assignment to a peer review team. Any subscribing institution may conduct internal or informal peer reviews.
QM Certified Courses and Reviewers
UAB has several QM certified courses and QM certified course reviewers. See a list of certified courses or reviewers by school/college below.
QM Professional Development
QM provides on-site, online, and web conferencing opportunities to a broad audience that includes, but is not limited to, instructional designers, faculty, instructors, teachers, and administrators.
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UAB QM Utilization Implementation Plan
The UAB Quality Matters (QM) Utilization Implementation Plan (QmUIP) task force members have developed the UAB QM Utilization Implementation Plan for 2018-2021. The overall objective for the plan is to improve the quality of online and blended/hybrid education, in support of the Education pillar of the UAB Strategic Plan.
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Benefits for QM Subscribers
As a subscriber, UAB offers faculty and staff the following benefits:
- A fully annotated, web-based HE QM Rubric for evaluating course design.
- On campus and online Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshops.
- Informal/internal and formal/official QM course reviews.
- Discounts on Official QM-managed course reviews, conferences, and professional development.
- Custom reports accessible by the instruction’s QM coordinators.
- QM IDA Membership, which connects instructional designers to resources that support their QM efforts.
- The QM Research Library helps you create a culture of quality assurance within your organization.
- Exclusive QM Success Stories webinars from other members.
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Create a QM Account
To start taking advantage of these benefits, please create an account.