Course Review

Per the Faculty Policies & Procedures Manual, the DEC, in collaboration with faculty and academic departments, will review hybrid and online courses on a regular basis using a nationally recognized rubric (such as Quality Matters) or the Longwood Distance Education Checklist. All course reviews will be completed by trained Quality Matters peer reviewers.

The Longwood Distance Education Checklist will be the default rubric for course review. If desired, faculty members can request their course be reviewed using the Quality Matters rubric at the start of the review process. Additionally, program coordinators/ directors for programs with a distance education modality may request a course be reviewed using the Quality Matters rubric.

Reviews will be facilitated by the DEC in collaboration with trained faculty peer reviewers. The review document provides objective, consistent, proactive and positive feedback to faculty regarding the course design of the online or hybrid course. Reviews shall address those areas where the pedagogical aspects are inherently related to the methodology/delivery of teaching in an online environment. Elements in the rubric related to course content (including amount and type of material, suitability of learning objectives, etc.) can be included when reviewed by a disciplinary peer.

Course reviews are intended as a means to improve the quality of distance education courses. As such it is considered an area of ongoing professional development for participating faculty. Reviews will be shared with participating faculty members and the associated department chair in order to promote quality enhancement of each department’s distance education courses. Quality enhancement may include recommendations for further professional development opportunities. All current faculty who have received LOTI training will have an online or hybrid course reviewed at least every five years. If no such course is available in that timeframe, the faculty member must complete a refresher LOTI course prior to teaching distance education again.