MCTC Quality Assurance Faculty Support

Quality Assurance Certification Process

PHASE 1: Self-Review

• Each semester, all faculty will identify one course to be self-reviewed using the MCTC QA Self-Review Checklist, available below in two versions.
  • Word Version
  • Excel Version
• Faculty will identify standards that need improvement and seek professional development opportunities or additional training that will assist them with making revisions.
• Self reviews will be completed each semester by May 1/December 1.
• Faculty will submit a copy of the self-review to the QA Blackboard Ultra course.

PHASE 2: Revisions

• Following a self review, course revisions will be on-going to meet the standards outlined on the MCTC QA Self-Review Checklist.
• Faculty will attend and participate in professional development or seek help to make revisions as needed.

PHASE 3: Peer-Review

• Each semester, all faculty will identify one course that has already been self-reviewed and revised to be peer-reviewed by another faculty reviewer.
• Peer reviewers may be assigned by the Chief Academic Officer, Division Chairs, or by faculty request.
• Each course will be reviewed by at least one faculty peer reviewer, but faculty are welcome to have their course reviewed by as many peers as they would like.
• Peer reviewers will be added as a TA in the course by the Online Learning Coordinator so they may complete the peer review.
• Peer reviewers will use a peer review checklist and the KES book to review the course, document findings, and provide feedback for each standard. The MCTC QA Peer-Review Checklist is available in two versions below:
  • Word Version
  • Excel Version
• After the peer review, the reviewer and the faculty member will meet to compare and discuss the self-review and the peer review. A third faculty member or Division Chair will review the course when there are unresolved discrepancies over a particular standard.
• Faculty will use the peer review feedback to make course revisions before the start of the next semester.
• Peer reviews will be completed each semester by May 1/December 1.
• Faculty will submit a copy of the peer-review(s) to the QA Blackboard Ultra course.

Phase 4: Official QA Review

• Courses will be reviewed on a 3-year cycle. 
  • Priority reviews may be initiated by the Chief Academic Officer, Division Chair or at the Faculty member(s) request. 
    • Reasons for priority may include:
      • If more than 3 years has passed since the original review
      • Significant changes that impact the course, such as new books, publisher content, technologies, curriculum updates, or other modifications to course design
      • Student feedback indicating significant deficiencies in a course
      • Outcomes analysis indicates improvement needed
      • Student success rate concerns
      • Based on enrollment numbers
      • If this is a new course or a course being offered in a new mode of delivery
      • National standards change
      • If professional or accreditation review is pending
      • If certification for PPE or promotion documentation is needed
• Quality Assurance Course Review Process
  • When a course is selected, the instructor will be notified that the course will be reviewed, and the Quality Assurance Course Review process will begin. 
    • The course will be reviewed using a QA checklist.
    • If the course meets all the standards required by the QA checklist, then the course is considered QA certified.
    • In situations where a course does not yet meet the standards required by the QA checklist, specific areas needing improvement will be identified. 
      • The faculty member(s) will be expected to address these concerns based on their QA Review Summary. 
      • Courses that do not meet minimum standards will be referred to as "in progress." 
      • Once needed improvements have been made, the course will be reviewed again to become QA certified.
    • The completed QA checklist will be kept on file in the QA Blackboard course for SACSCOC purposes. The faculty member will also be sent a copy for their records and for documentation toward PPE and promotion.
  • Courses that have been previously certified will follow a Recertification Process approximately every 3 years.
    • The following does not require a new review before the 3-year recertification process:
      • Changing assignments
      • Adding assignments
      • Updating tests or test questions
      • Correcting errors
      • New version of a text that has minor changes
    • Faculty are encouraged to be innovative and try new technologies and strategies each term. The innovation does not always require a recertification of the course.