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Online Course Services
Online & Hybrid Course Certification
In response to the rapid growth of online and hybrid learning in the CSU and the need to support the development of high-quality courses, the Chancellor’s Office established an Online Course Services (OCS) program. The OCS program responds to the unique needs of CSU campuses and is available to all faculty at no cost. The system-wide CSU OCS website provides more information about the program.
As part of its mission to support the development of high-quality online courses, the Center for Teaching, Learning & Faculty Success (CTLFS) and Academic Technology Services (ATS) contribute to and coordinate the OCS efforts at Sacramento State, particularly through the Quality Matters (QM) organization.
Quality Matters (QM) is an international pioneer in the review and recognition of high-quality online courses and an independent organization that supplies review materials, workshops, and review teams for member schools.
How do we support online & hybrid courses?
Online Course Services at Sacramento State provides support to faculty in the development and/or improvement of their hybrid, online, and web-enhanced courses. The opportunity for support include:
- Faculty learning communities (FLCs) and workshops focused on online and hybrid teaching and learning
- Peer mentoring and consultation
- Expert peer reviews of online and hybrid courses
- Professional development through QM online courses.
Sacramento State is a member of QM, a nationally recognized organization for its peer-based approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement. This membership provides Sacramento State faculty and staff opportunities for QM peer reviews using the QM rubric.
QM Course Review Process
Faculty will receive $800 compensation upon successful completion of a QM review of an online, hybrid, or web-enhanced course. Requirements and steps to apply for a QM review are outlined below. You may apply during the current Academic Year.
For further information about the review process, please contact a Sac State QM Coordinator (Tara Sharpp or Debra Welkley)
For successful completion of the QM Course Review Process, please ensure the following before submitting an application:
- You have taught the course in the format to be reviewed (hybrid, online, web-enhanced) within the past year (fall, spring, or summer).
- The course will be offered in the next year (spring, summer, or fall).
- You have completed a self-review for the course using the QM Rubric using the self-assessment worksheets or the QM rubric through CRMS. Video: Conduct a QM Self-Review
- You have created a development course you will use for the review process. You can name your development course NAME_COURSE#_QM Review or something similar (such as Sharpp_NURS 25_QM Review)
- You have completed at least one QM course (IYOC or APPQMR), at least one semester of the QM FLC at Sac State, or a similar OCS grant.
- You are able to commit to completing the peer review process within the academic year of the application for review.
- Meet course review requirements, see above.
- Submit a Sac State QM Review application
- The QM Coordinator (QMC) will review the application within seven days and will send an email with instructions, including directions on adding the QMC to the to the development course.
- The QMC will communicate with you about changes needed, if any, and notify you if the course is approved for QM review.
- A qualified QM Reviewer is identified for the QM course review.
- A pre-review conference with the instructor, reviewer, and QMC is scheduled.
- After the pre-review conference, the Reviewer begins the review of the course. The review period is about 4 weeks.
- Upon completion of the review, the Reviewer will submit the report within the QM System. The QM Coordinator or member of the OCS team will meet with you discuss results.
- If the course does not meet QM standards:
- You have the option of making revisions to the course in order to meet QM standards within 14 weeks.
- You can work with the QM Coordinator or OCS team member to review the revisions to meet QM standards and complete the Amendment form
- The instructor submits the Amendment form for Review. The course review team chair reviews the changes and communicates with the QM Coordinator and instructor.
- When the QM Essential Standards meet expectations, the instructor and course is awarded QM Foundational Design Recognition.
- For information about additional opportunities for certification, including Alternate, Formal, and Recertification reviews, please contact a Sac State QM Coordinator (Tara Sharpp or Debra Welkley).
Upcoming QM/QLT Trainings
What workshop should I take?
The Chancellor’s Office offers AI Tools for Teaching and Learning, open to all, and several workshops designed to improve online or hybrid courses (QM and QLT) Sacramento State uses the QM rubric to certify our courses, and Sacramento State faculty ae eligible to take the QM workshops offered free through the Chancellor’s office. Other CSUs use QLT, so while QLT workshops are listed, Sacramento State faculty are not eligible to take those workshops.
Both QM workshops, IYOC and APPQMR provide a good introduction to the QM rubric. If you are interested in the Course Review process, we recommend APPQMR as it is the first required workshop to be a Certified Peer Reviewer.
Please click on the name of the course to register or register here!
| Course Title | Estimate Length |
|---|---|
| Applying the Quality Matters Rubric | Online, 20-25 hours, asynchronous |
| Improving your Online Course QM | Online, 15-20 hours, asynchronous |
| AI Tools for Teaching & Learning (Faculty/Lecturers) | Online, 20-25 hours (3 weeks) asynchronous |
Online & Hybrid Teaching Resources
Tools
- Register for QM Courses
- How to create a QM account to access QM resources
- Accessible Instructional Materials and Syllabus Templates
- How to Redesign Your Course for Online, Hybrid, or Technology-Enhanced
References
Meet the Online Course Services Team
OCS Faculty Co-Leads
- Tara Sharpp, Professor (HHS)
- Debra Welkley, Lecturer (SSIS)
OCS Mentors
- Deborah George, Instructional Designer (CCE)
- Corinne Rowland, Universal Design for Learning Lead (IRT)
- Angela Laflen, Lecturer (ENG)
Current QM Certified Faculty & Staff
- Jennifer Anderson (Nursing): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Michelle Dang (Nursing): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer, HE Master Reviewer, HE QM Coordinator, HE Course Review Manager, QM Teaching Online Certificate, IYOC Facilitator
- Deborah George (CCE): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer, HE Master Reviewer, CPE Peer Reviewer, APPQMR Facilitator
- Janet Hanstad (Biology): HE Peer Reviewer
- Angela Laflen (English): HE Peer Reviewer
- Stephanie Landers (Nursing): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Milica Markovic (Electrical & Electronic Engineering): Higher Ed (HE) Certified F2F Facilitator, HE Course Review Manager, HE Master Reviewer, HE Peer Reviewer
- Ami Motlagh (Civil Engineering): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Jasdeep Pannu (Mathematics): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Kara Shiner (Nursing): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Christie Smart (Nursing): QM Teaching Online Certificate, Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Jackie Taylor (CTLFS): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer
- Santos Torres (Social Work): Higher Ed (HE) Certified Online Facilitator, HE Certified Online IYOC Facilitator, HE Master Reviewer, PUB Master Reviewer, HE Peer Reviewer, PUB Peer Reviewer, HE Program Certification Reviewer
- Tara Sharpp (Nursing): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer, HE Master Reviewer, QM Teaching Online Certificate, HE QM Coordinator, HE Course Review Manager, APPQMR Facilitator
- Debra Welkley (Sociology): Higher Ed (HE) Peer Reviewer, HE Master Reviewer, IYOC Facilitator
QM Certified Courses
A QM certification signifies that a course has met a respected set of standards for high quality through a rigorous, faculty peer review process.
| Course Title | Instructor |
|---|---|
| ASTR 4B: Introduction to Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies | Vera Margoniner |
| CE 151: Environmental Engineering Practice | Amir Motlagh |
| COMS 106: Digital Media Creation | Diego Bonilla |
| COMS 118: Survey of Public Relations | Cheng Hong |
| CRJ 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice Research Methods | Nikki Fox |
| CRJ 102: Crime and Punishment | Mercedes Valadez |
| CSC 130: Data Structures and Algorithms | Anna Baynes |
| CSC 134: Database management Systems | Ying Jin |
| ETHN 11: Introduction to Ethnic Studies | Ayanna Yonemure |
| ETHN 70: Introduction to Pan-African Studies | Jasmine Wade |
| EEE 161: Applied Electromagnetics | Milica Markovic |
| ENG 220P: Professional Writing | Angela Laflen |
| ENGR 17: Introductory Circuit Analysis | Zahra Najafi |
| ENGR 106: Energy and Modern Life | Farship Zabihian |
| ENGR 124: Thermodynamics | Farshid Zabihian |
| ENGR 140: Engineering Economics | Mohammed Alshargawi |
| FASH 30: Fashion and Human Environment | Dong Shen |
| FASH 137: Clothing Society, and Culture | Dong Shen |
| FSHD 50: The Family & Social Issues | Henry Gonzalez |
| GERO 122: Research on Aging & the Life Course | Catheryn Koss |
| HIST 51: World History II from 1500 | Mona Siegal |
| HHS 100: Introduction to Health Science (15-week version) | Jennifer Anderson |
| HHS 100: Introduction to Health Science (6-week version) | Jennifer Anderson |
| JOUR 50: Media Literacy and Critical Thinking | Molly Dugan |
| ME 296S: Advanced CAD for Aerospace Applications | Kahtan Awni |
| NUFD 5: Science of Food | Skyler Wie |
| NUFD 113: Nutrition and Metabolism | Shara Sheldon |
| NURS 160: Human Sexuality (6-week version) | Michelle Dang |
| NURS 160: Human Sexuality (16-week version) | Michelle Dang |
| NURS 165: Hospice and Palliative Nursing Care (6-week version) | Tara Sharpp |
| NURS 165: Hospice and Palliative Nursing Care (16 week version) | Tara Sharpp |
| NURS 170: Foundations in Evidence-Based Nursing Practice | Michelle Dang |
| NURS 171: Transitional Concepts: The Baccalaureate Nurse | Bronwyn Fields |
| NURS 173: Theoretical Foundations for Leadership and Management | Tara Sharpp |
| NURS 178: Culminating Project | Christie Smart |
| PHIL 104: Bioethics | ussel DiSilvia |
| PSYC 4: Navigating Psychology: The majors and Careers | Sharon Furtak |
| PSYC 100: Cross-Cultural Psychology | Greg Kim-Ju |
| PSYC 103: Perception | Sarah Strand |
| PSYC 116: Animal Behavior | Sarah Strand |
| PSYC 135: Psychology of Multicultural Groups | Greg Kim-Ju |
| PT 614: Neuroscience for Physical Therapists | Brian Moore |
| RPTA 33: Race, Class, Gender, and Leisure | Mary Breunig |
| SOC 08: Sense and Nonsense in Social Research and Social Issues | Debra Welkley |
| SOC 120: Ethnic and Race Relations | Debra Welkley |
| SOC 160: Asian Societies | Nikita Sharma |
| SWRK 102 Crosscultural Theory and Practice: Issues of Race, Gender and Class (16-week version) | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 102: Crosscultural Theory and Practice: Issues of Race, Gender and Class (6-week version | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 150: Welfare In America | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 126: Theories of Criminal Behavior (6-week version) | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 126: Theories of Criminal Behavior (16-week version) | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 202: Social Work and Diverse Populations | Santos Torres, Jr. |
| SWRK 250: Social Welfare Policy and Services | Santos Torres, Jr. |
Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Sacramento State provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Sacramento State complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Sacramento State is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Sacramento State, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.