Faculty Resources

The Office of eLearning is committed to providing faculty and online program leaders with program and course quality information as well as processes focused on improving student outcomes and program growth. Resources on this page include:

• Quality standards
• Program quality
• Online course quality
• Online teaching certification
• Keep Learning
• Teaching Tools
• Modality definitions
• State authorization

Related resources include:

• Online program scaling process
• Online and remote teaching training 
• New online program approval process (via UM System Office of Academic Affairs) 

Quality standards

The UM System Administrative Policies for eLearning – Quality Standards were developed as a result of collaborative effort among faculty, staff and administration systemwide and at the behest of faculty representatives across the UM System. These representatives requested clear, uniform standards that would serve to improve the quality of our students’ experience and help address federal and state laws, regulations and guidelines, as well as meet accrediting body requirements. Several representative groups were involved in the effort, including the UM System Online Faculty Advisory Committee, the eLearning Academic Council and the eLearning Oversight Committee. The latter is comprised of provosts and their delegates, the UM System Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the UM System Vice President for Finance, in accordance with the governance structure for the systemwide eLearning Initiative. 

These quality standards apply to all courses being offered online, including semester-based, synchronous and asynchronous courses, as well as online programs (defined as >75% online courses in the program) throughout the UM System.  The quality standards are based on the nationally-recognized Quality Matters approach for online courses and programs, and incorporates aspects of the quality review processes that were historically in place at each university within the UM System.  

Program quality

Part of program quality is ensuring programs have well-defined, clear outcomes for students and that individual course outcomes, assessments and student learning objectives are well-aligned and directly support program outcomes (i.e., curricular alignment). Reporting on curricular alignment is also necessary for accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. To that end, the UM System uses CourseTune to map curricular alignment and to facilitate communication among administration, faculty and the Office of eLearning.  

• All online programs should have their curricula mapped through CourseTune .  
• All online programs should have a student academic plan that articulates the pathway to the program completion. For example, undergraduate degrees should have a four-year academic map.
• Instructional Designers are available to assist faculty in mapping their curriculum through CourseTune and/or connect faculty with institutional-specific resources.

Online course quality

Faculty are required to develop or refresh each online course either in a course development program offered by the Office of eLearning (and run by instructional designers) or in consultation with an instructional designer. All online courses will be reviewed through the Quality Course Review process, which is run through the Office of eLearning.

To request a course review and to learn more, visit the Request Quality Course Review page.

Online Teaching Certification

The eLearning Academic Council and the Online Faculty Advisory Committee were charged with providing recommendations to the eLearning Oversight Committee regarding what fulfills the existing, UM System-wide requirement that instructors teaching online courses be certified to do so prior to teaching online.

To learn more about the Online Teaching Certification program visit the Online Teaching Certification page.

Keep Learning

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of eLearning created Keep Learning, a website with tips, resources and important information for students, faculty/instructors and staff to use when shifting to remote learning.

Visit Keep Learning at https://keeplearning.umsystem.edu

Teaching Tools

Through the Teaching Tools website, the Office of eLearning Academic Technology team offers support, and provides in-depth articles and discussion forums focused on online teaching tools.

Visit Teaching Tools at https://teachingtools.umsystem.edu

Modality definitions

Each campus has a definition for online learning and teaching. Find more information on the links below:

• Mizzou - https://registrar.missouri.edu/registration-classes/class-details/
• UMKC - https://www.umkc.edu/registrar/policies-procedures/classroom-scheduling.html
• Missouri S&T - https://registrar.mst.edu/classofferings/courseinstructionmodes/
• UMSL - https://www.umsl.edu/registration/scheduling-resources/index.html

State authorization

States require that Mizzou, UMKC, Missouri S&T and UMSL be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently. See our state authorization page for more information.

For programs that lead to licensure or certification, the Department of Education’s Federal Regulations 34 CFR 668.43 (a)(5)(v) mandate that each institution inform students of whether their program curriculum, both distance education and face-to-face programs, meets the state requirements for each program that leads to a licensure or certification. See our licensure and disclosures page.

To learn more about State Authorization, check out our State Authorization Guide for faculty, staff, and administrators.