SUNY Online Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader

The SUNY Online Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader certification recognizes online learning leaders who are prepared to plan and guide larger-scale online course quality review and refresh initiatives using OSCQR.

Designed for online learning leaders, directors, managers, instructional design leaders, and others responsible for online course quality, the certification moves beyond reviewing individual courses to focus on the planning, coordination, and infrastructure needed to implement OSCQR course quality review and refresh initiatives systematically across a program, department, school, campus, or institution.

Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leaders demonstrate their ability to engage stakeholders, assess institutional context, establish goals and timelines, identify policies and organizational structures that affect implementation, determine appropriate course review models, plan for faculty and reviewer preparation, identify needed tools and resources, and develop strategies for communication, accessibility, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement.

From Training to Certification

Training and certification are two distinct steps.

The first step is completion of the SUNY Online Teaching: Designing an OSCQR Implementation Plan workshop (registration found on the OSCQR webinar series). Participants who complete the workshop earn the Designing an OSCQR Implementation Plan training badge.

The two-hour workshop provides an orientation to a comprehensive implementation planning framework for larger-scale online course quality initiatives. Participants are guided through the elements of the OSCQR Implementation Plan Template and consider how each element applies within their own institutional context, scope, and goals.

During the workshop, participants consider questions such as:

What model of online course review and refresh is appropriate for the scope and scale of the initiative?
Who are the stakeholders, and how will they be engaged?
What are the goals, priorities, and timeline?
What institutional policies, organizational structures, procedures, and resources need to be considered?
How will faculty, instructional designers, peer reviewers, and trainers participate?
What communication, documentation, and assessment strategies will support implementation and continuous improvement?
Which OSCQR tools and resources can support and track the initiative?

Participants receive the OSCQR Implementation Plan Template and an orientation to OSCQR tools and resources that can support implementation, including the OSCQR rubric, interactive team-review tools, dashboard, and comprehensive OSCQR resource site.

The Introduction to OSCQR workshop is recommended prior to the implementation planning workshop. Familiarity with OSCQR and experience with online course quality review and refresh are assumed.

Earning Implementation Planning Leader Certification

Completing the workshop and earning the webinar badge demonstrates participation in the professional development experience. Certification requires evidence that the participant has applied that preparation to develop an actual larger-scale online course quality implementation plan.

To earn the SUNY Online Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader certification, candidates must:

Complete the Designing an OSCQR Implementation Plan workshop and earn the associated training badge.
Hold OSCQR Reviewer or Trainer Certification, demonstrating experience with the OSCQR rubric and the complete online course review and refresh process.
Develop a comprehensive implementation plan for a larger-scale online course quality review and refresh initiative using or adapting the OSCQR Implementation Plan Template.
Submit the completed implementation plan as evidence of their ability to apply the implementation planning framework within their institutional, program, department, or school context.
Submit a reflection describing lessons learned through the planning process and considerations that will inform implementation and continuous improvement.

The implementation plan should represent a meaningful initiative that the candidate has the responsibility and authority to develop or help lead.

View the SUNY Online Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader certification badge and criteria.

Benefits of Implementation Planning Leader Certification

The certification provides both a structured planning process and formal recognition of the leadership required to move from individual online course reviews to a sustainable, larger-scale approach to online course quality.

Becoming a Certified OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader can help individuals and institutions:

Move from individual course review to larger scale systematic implementation. Develop a coordinated approach for scaling online course review and refresh activities across multiple courses, programs, departments, or schools.
Create a practical roadmap for implementation. Use the OSCQR Implementation Plan Template to document goals, scope, stakeholders, timelines, responsibilities, resources, policies, communication, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Select an implementation model appropriate to the local context. Consider institutional culture, organizational structures, available resources, faculty needs, existing online course quality review and continuous improvement practices, and the intended scale of the initiative.
Build internal capacity for online course quality. Identify roles and pathways for faculty, instructional designers, peer reviewers, trainers, online learning leaders, and other stakeholders.
Integrate professional development and certification pathways. Implementation plans can incorporate opportunities for participants to pursue OSCQR Self-Assessment, Reviewer/Peer Reviewer, and Trainer certifications, creating increasing levels of internal expertise and capacity.
Support accessible, effective online course design. Establish a systematic process for reviewing and refreshing the instructional design and accessibility of online courses using OSCQR.
Strengthen communication and stakeholder engagement. Plan intentionally for transparency, participation, feedback, leadership support, and communication throughout the initiative.
Document and assess implementation. Establish processes for tracking participation, course reviews, action plans, course improvements, faculty development, and other outcomes.
Support sustainability and continuous improvement. Develop an approach that can grow, evolve, and be repeated rather than functioning as a one-time course review project.
Prepare for OSCQR Program-Level Certification. Implementation Planning Leader Certification is a prerequisite for institutions pursuing SUNY Online OSCQR Program-Level Certification and provides the planning foundation for developing a coherent, sustainable, and OSCQR-aligned institutional approach to online course quality assurance.

Building an OSCQR Quality Infrastructure

A larger-scale OSCQR initiative can include multiple levels of participation and professional development.

For example, an implementation plan might provide pathways for faculty to complete OSCQR Self-Assessments and course refreshes; prepare faculty, instructional designers, or other qualified participants to serve as OSCQR peer reviewers; develop experienced practitioners as OSCQR Trainers; and establish processes for managing, documenting, assessing, and continually improving the overall initiative.

The specific model should be tailored to the goals, resources, organizational structure, and culture of each institution. There is no single required implementation model. The purpose of the planning process is to help leaders make those decisions intentionally and create an approach that is appropriate, realistic, scalable, and sustainable within their own context.

Pathway to OSCQR Program-Level Certification

The OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader Certification also serves as an important foundation for the more comprehensive SUNY Online OSCQR Program-Level Certification.

Program-Level Certification recognizes a campus, institution, school, or program that demonstrates a coherent, sustainable, and OSCQR-aligned approach to online course quality assurance. The process builds on implementation planning and individual OSCQR expertise and includes consultation and collaboration with SUNY Online Teaching to review the institution’s approach to faculty preparation, course self-assessment and peer review, course refresh, reviewer and trainer development, implementation, documentation, and continuous improvement.

For SUNY campuses, Program-Level Certification can also support work associated with SUNY Online Institutional Readiness and SUNY Online+ Signature Elements.

Consultation and Support

Every institution has a different context, organizational structure, level of experience with OSCQR, and vision for online course quality. Individual consultation with SUNY Online Teaching is available to discuss your goals, identify implementation options, consider appropriate approaches to course review and refresh, and determine how OSCQR training and certification pathways might fit within your larger initiative.

Request an individual consultation to discuss your implementation planning needs or learn more about the OSCQR Implementation Planning Leader Certification.

Examples of evidence required for certification are available upon request.