A newly-certified online course in UHD’s Marilyn Davies College of Business is just one example of the university’s continued investment in high-quality online learning and student success.
This spring, MIS 4340: Information Systems Strategy, Acquisition & Management, created by Dr. Yun Wan, associate professor of Finance, Information Systems, Economics, and Risk Management, earned Quality Matters (QM) certification, an internationally recognized standard for online course design that evaluates how courses are structured to support student learning and success.
“This is a new course development, and I feel more confident about the course delivery effectiveness and content accessibility to students after receiving the official QM accreditation,” Wan said.
Student-centered course design is central to the mission of UHD’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Megan Scales, Associate Director of CTLE, works with faculty like Dr. Wan to develop accessible and engaging courses grounded in evidence-based teaching strategies that support student success.
“The work that we strive to do with faculty is student-facing, although the CTLE does not work directly with students, everything we do promotes student success,” Scales said.
That collaborative approach played a major role in the development of Wan’s newly certified course. Wan said he and Scales met weekly for several weeks during the Quality Matters accreditation process to work through the finer details of course design.
“Her depth of knowledge and consistent professionalism were truly instrumental in earning my course’s accreditation,” Wan said.
For students, it means clearer course navigation, more engaging learning experiences, and online classrooms designed with student success in mind.
Scales said the framework centers around what she calls “the three A’s”: accessibility, active learning, and alignment between learning objectives, course activities, and assessments.
Beyond Quality Matters certification, CTLE continues to support faculty through workshops focused on evolving teaching practices. Recent development sessions have covered topics such as course design in Canvas and strategies like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Transparency in Teaching and Learning (TILT) that help faculty think more intentionally about how students engage with course material.
This spring, CTLE also launched a series focused on artificial intelligence, helping instructors navigate topics such as ethics, authenticity, transparency, and AI-resilient course design.
“AI is moving faster than any one person can keep up with, so having that group support is essential moving forward,” Scales said.
For Scales and the CTLE team, Quality Matters certification represents more than course design standards. It reflects a broader commitment to creating learning environments where faculty and students feel supported, prepared, and positioned for success.