After completing a comprehensive review of Northern Michigan University’s asynchronous online courses to ensure they meet the minimum standards outlined in NMU’s stair-step course review model, a new review cycle will begin in the Winter, 2027 semester to ensure courses meet the next step up – quality standards.
“It can be assumed that any course that is taught from Fall of 2026 onward for the foreseeable future will be assessed at quality standards,” said Lucy Miller, Global Campus associate director of online learning and development.
The quality standards rubric, which is available via NMU’s online course review website, has all new elements of assessment in bold to distinguish them from what minimum standards required.
The new set of quality standards places a strong emphasis on accessibility, application-based understanding of course content and the use of technology to support course outcomes and competencies.
“One thing we want to highlight is that, just like with minimum standards, we are going into the EduCat course shells,” Miller said. “Meaning, just like with minimum standards, all student identifying information has been removed from the course shell.”
Once a course has been reviewed, the course instructor will be notified of the course’s pass/fail status via email, as will the department head. If the course fails to meet quality standards, revisions will be required in order for the course to be taught again by that instructor.
“We are always willing to work with faculty to adjust the timeline for revisions as needed,” Miller said. “We just ask that they be in communication with our office. We’re also here to offer support. If faculty want to meet with us, have questions about feedback, or if it's unclear, we’re always willing to provide that additional support.”
All online asynchronous courses are up for review again at the next level, regardless of whether they've passed at a previous level. Once they pass the current level of review, they will not be reviewed again until we transition to another level.
The review to ensure all asynchronous online courses met minimum standards took roughly four years to complete. Miller said she expects a similar timeline for the new quality standards review
NMU’s course review process follows Quality Matters, a peer-reviewed academic standard.
“We have taken the best practices from that model and applied them to the unique constraints and affordances of our institution,” Miller said. “It is modeled after a peer-reviewed, nationally acclaimed standard for online course design and delivery.”
Miller is currently assembling a faculty-to-faculty peer-review group that she will work alongside to complete the quality standards course review, giving the process a peer-to-peer perspective.
“We’re going to be sending out communications so faculty can be on the lookout for an email at the end of the semester informing them, once again, about these changes,” Miller said. “Our office is willing and able to answer questions or provide any support as needed.
“As a university, online education is something we're excelling in,” Miller added. “Faculty are innovative and exemplary in their asynchronous course design, and we feel that, because of this, we are ready to take our review process to the next level."