The Exemplary Program designation indicates the highest level of achievement in supporting learners with quality online courses.
(PRUnderground) January 28th, 2025
South Texas College (STC) has earned the Exemplary Program designation for all of its online programs from Quality Matters (QM) — the international leader for quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments.
The achievement of Exemplary Program status highlights STC’s exceptional commitment to employing QM’s research-supported quality assurance Standards and practices in its online programs. The institution’s dedication in this area signifies that its online learners are able to enjoy greater accessibility, a deeper sense of belonging, more access to communication and community with peers and instructors, and improved clarity of experience in their online courses.
“Students at South Texas College benefit from engaging, well-structured, and accessible courses that foster better learning outcomes as a result of our work in online quality assurance,” says Andrés Padilla-Oviedo, Ph.D., instructional designer and QM Coordinator at STC.
Exemplary Program status recognizes South Texas College’s outstanding investment in quality online learning in all four areas of QM’s online program framework: online program design, online teaching support, online learner support, and online learner success. In order to receive the exemplary program designation, institutions must earn QM Program Certification in each of these areas by successfully completing a peer review process conducted by fellow educators.
Through this process, institutions must demonstrate evidence of meeting standards of online course design and instructional quality as well as learner outcomes for a minimum of three years — a significant campus-wide effort that ensures the highest standard of quality has been met.
“This designation reflects our institution’s long history of continual improvement in delivering outstanding online education,” says Rachel Sale, Ph.D., STC dean of digital learning. “It highlights the dedication and hard work of our entire college team — from academic departments to student services — while reinforcing our commitment to leadership in online learning and student success.”
On an institutional level, the Exemplary Program designation enables STC to showcase its online program quality to current and prospective students, investors and other stakeholders. This recognition will be central to our marketing and outreach efforts, emphasizing the quality and credibility of our online programs,” says Dr. Sale, “It will also serve as a foundation for strategies aimed at boosting enrollment, improving retention, and enhancing the overall student experience.”
South Texas College hopes to continue to deepen its work in quality assurance in 2025 and beyond, reflective of QM’s concept of continuous improvement. Moving forward, we will continue to further refine our online offerings by expanding faculty development, integrating innovative technologies into course design, and maintaining alignment with QM Standards. Our goal is to sustain and build upon the Exemplary Program status to continually elevate the learning experience for our students.”
About Quality Matters
Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Recognition and Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course or Program Quality Standards in a rigorous review process.
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