Quality Assurance at MC
Quality Assurance (QA) in online education ensures that all courses meet high standards of design, delivery, and student engagement. At Montgomery College, QA focuses on creating consistent, accessible, and effective learning experiences across all online and hybrid courses. Through structured evaluation, faculty professional development, and continuous improvement, QA supports instructional excellence and student success.
Key goals of Quality Assurance in online education include:
- Ensuring course design aligns with institutional and national standards
- Promoting accessibility and inclusivity for all learners
- Supporting faculty in applying best practices for online teaching
- Enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes
MC’s QA framework integrates evidence-based practices, professional development, and
peer review to maintain the highest quality in online instruction.
LECT competencies are the standards set forth by Montgomery College to guide the design, delivery, and review of high‑quality online courses. They provide a shared framework that helps online instructors intentionally plan learning experiences that are student‑centered, inclusive, engaging, and effective. Grounded in best practices for online teaching and learning, the LECT competencies emphasize thoughtful course organization, equitable and accessible learning environments, meaningful communication and engagement, and the purposeful use of technology. Collectively, these competencies serve as a quality assurance guide, supporting instructors as they develop, evaluate, and continuously improve online courses to promote student success.
Following is a breakdown of each competency:
- Leadership & Advocacy
- Equity & Accessibility
- Communication & Engagement
- Technology & Innovation
For a detailed breakdown of the desired outcomes and examples for each competency, check out the LECT framework guide new window.
Quality Matters (QM) is a nationally-recognized framework for ensuring the quality and consistency of online course design, and Montgomery College is a QM subscriber. QM provides a research‑based Higher Education Rubric that emphasizes alignment among learning objectives, instructional materials, learning activities, assessments, and technology. These standards help ensure that courses are clearly organized, accessible to diverse learners, and intentionally designed to support student success in the online learning environment.
Montgomery College is committed to implementing QM standards across its online and hybrid course offerings, and the College is systematically developing and evaluating courses using this rigorous review process. Faculty who complete Montgomery College’s Online Teaching (OT) training learn how to apply QM standards to their own courses, strengthening course clarity, navigation, accessibility, and instructional alignment. This shared framework establishes consistent expectations for course quality while still allowing instructors the flexibility to design engaging and discipline‑specific learning experiences.
As a QM subscriber, Montgomery College is able to offer faculty the opportunity to
pursue formal QM course reviews, with departmental approval. To support faculty in
this process, MC Online conducts a pre‑review of courses that have been accepted for
QM review, helping instructors prepare for the expectations of the official review
process. MC Online also offers QM‑related professional development opportunities throughout
the year. Courses that meet QM standards will receive official recognition. A list
of all QM–recognized courses (PDF, 
) at Montgomery College is available for download.
If you are interested in pursuing QM certification, please reach out to your department chair and dean to initiate the process.
The Quality Assurance (QA) Microcredential recognizes faculty who demonstrate advanced understanding and effective application of quality standards in online course design and facilitation. Guided by the LECT competencies, participants engage in a series of professional learning workshops focused on developing high‑quality online courses, designing inclusive and student‑centered learning experiences, and applying strategies for continuous improvement in online teaching.
The QA Microcredential is comprised of three scaffolded badge levels that build progressively on instructional design, innovation, and course quality evaluation:
- Design & Delivery Badge (level 1)
- Transformer Badge (level 2)
- Reviewer Badge (level 3)
Each badge includes an asynchronous orientation, synchronous workshops, and a competency demonstration. Applications open in April each year. Keep an eye out for information sessions in the Spring and Fall semesters.
This Microcredential supports Montgomery College’s commitment to excellence in online learning and provides faculty with a formal recognition of their QA expertise.
Instructors interested in teaching online at Montgomery College must complete two trainings:
- Digital Fundamentals for Teaching and Learning (DFTL)
- Online Teaching Training
The MC Online Teaching Pathway Infographic (PDF, ) will help you determine which mandatory trainings you need to complete in order to
begin teaching online at MC.
If you are a newly hired experienced online faculty, once you have completed DFTL, you can apply for a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) in lieu of Online Teaching Training. The PLA process allows experienced online faculty to demonstrate existing competencies in online teaching and course design. Faculty may request evaluation of prior training, certifications, or teaching experience to meet MC's requirements to teach online. The PLA process ensures that your online instruction expertise is recognized while maintaining consistent quality standards across all online courses.
To apply for the PLA, complete DFTL first, then complete the PLA Application new window for consideration.
Please check the start dates of Online Teaching Training sessions to ensure you submit the PLA application in advance, to allow yourself time to gather evidence and review of your application by MC Online to determine your eligibility.
Experienced online faculty who are interested in supporting colleagues in online course quality improvement may become peer reviewers through one of two pathways: earning the QA Reviewer Badge or completing Quality Matters’ Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) workshop. Both pathways help prepare participants to assist with high-quality course development and review efforts both at Montgomery College and beyond.
A key opportunity for QA Reviewer completers is participation in MC QUAD (Quality Assurance Dialogues), a collaborative review team comprised of faculty, students, instructional designers, and academic staff. QUAD promotes a culture of informal peer review through volunteer course reviews and discussions focused on online quality design.
For those pursuing the formal Quality Matters route, APPQMR is the first step toward becoming a certified QM peer reviewer. As of Fall 2025, MC Online offers APPQMR asynchronous workshops. APPQMR is available at MC as an online asynchronous workshop via MC Online. After completing APPQMR, participants must also complete the Peer Review Certification (PRC) course to serve on official QM review teams as a peer reviewer. Certified QM peer reviewers are added to a national database and may participate in paid Quality Matters review work.
If you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer at Montgomery College, please contact Tia Roebuck, Distance Learning Program Coordinator, for more information.