OSCQR Program-Level Certification

The SUNY Online OSCQR Program-Level Certification recognizes institutional online course quality initiatives that are aligned with the OSCQR rubric, process, and certification standards. This certification is designed for SUNY campuses and external institutions that have developed, or are developing, a systematic approach to online course quality review, faculty self-assessment, peer review, course refresh, instructional designer support, reviewer/trainer preparation, and continuous improvement using OSCQR.

Through the program-level certification process, SUNY Online Teaching reviews the institution’s online course quality assurance model, adapted OSCQR materials, training activities, course review processes, faculty and reviewer preparation, action planning practices, and evidence of implementation. SUNY Online Teaching provides consultation, feedback, recommendations, and support to help strengthen the institution’s local model and ensure alignment with OSCQR standards and expectations.

Program-level certification may include review of:

Adapted OSCQR rubrics, review tools, and course quality materials.
Faculty self-assessment and course refresh processes.
Peer reviewer, instructional designer, and trainer preparation.
Synchronous and asynchronous OSCQR-aligned training experiences.
Course review documentation and prioritized action plans.
Evidence of course improvement, reviewer readiness, and faculty development.
Institutional processes for sustaining online course quality review and continuous improvement.

The certification attests that the campus or institution demonstrates a coherent, sustainable, and OSCQR-aligned approach to online course quality assurance. It also supports pathways for participating faculty, instructional designers, peer reviewers, and trainers to pursue formal SUNY Online OSCQR Self-Assessment, Reviewer, and Trainer certifications, as appropriate.

OSCQR Program-Level Certification is formative, collaborative, and non-evaluative. The process is intended to support institutional capacity-building, promote accessible and effective online course design, and document meaningful outcomes related to faculty preparedness, reviewer development, online course review, course refresh, and online course and program continuous improvement.

Alignment with SUNY Online Institutional Readiness and SUNY Online+ Signature Elements

For SUNY campuses, OSCQR Program-Level Certification also supports the efforts of those engaged in the SUNY Online Institutional Readiness process, and including the SUNY Online+ program and signature elements. The certification process helps campuses document and strengthen the course quality, faculty support, student support, and program support practices that contribute to a high-quality online learning experience.

OSCQR Program-Level Certification aligns with SUNY Online+ Signature Elements related to student support, faculty support, and program support. These include systematic processes for keeping online courses refreshed in relation to discipline and career-related trends; comprehensive faculty support for quality course design, development, delivery, and evaluation; the use of instructional design standards, rubrics, and tools to support high-quality course development and refresh; support for accessibility, Universal Design for Learning, and SUNY’s Electronic Information Technology accessibility expectations; and assessment practices that support continuous quality improvement.

In this way, OSCQR Program-Level Certification can help campuses build on the SUNY Online Institutional Readiness process by providing a focused, evidence-informed mechanism for documenting and improving online course quality practices at the course, program, and institutional levels.

Participation Options

SUNY Online OSCQR Program-Level Certification is available to both SUNY campuses and external institutions.

Institutional participation may include:

Access to established SUNY Online OSCQR training materials and resources for local adaptation.
Review and feedback on adapted webinar, workshop, and/or self-paced course materials.
Observation or review of pilot program delivery.
Review of faculty-generated course self-assessments, peer and instructional designer reviews, and action plans.
Consultation on implementation, documentation, and continuous improvement processes.
Alignment of OSCQR-based course quality activities within the SUNY Online Institutional Readiness program and SUNY Online+ Signature Elements, as appropriate.
Issuance of a formal OSCQR Program-Level Certification designation.
Annual recertification to support continued alignment and program improvement is required.

For SUNY institutions, program-level certification, reviewer certification, trainer certification, and related consultation are provided as part of SUNY Online Teaching’s system-level support for online teaching and learning quality and are free of charge.

For institutions outside the SUNY system, program-level certification is available through a flat-fee institutional model established in consultation with the participating institution or program, taking the scope of the project into account. This model supports access to established OSCQR training resources, review and feedback on locally adapted materials, consultation on implementation, individual instructional designer, trainer, peer reviewer, and faculty certifications, program-level certification, and annual recertification. The flat-fee approach is intended to provide predictable budgeting while supporting a scalable cohort-based online faculty development and course improvement model.

The fee structure for external institutions is designed to support reasonable variation in annual participation while maintaining a clear scope of support. Substantial expansion beyond the anticipated program scale may require additional review of scope, support needs, and associated costs.

Benefits of OSCQR Program-Level Certification

OSCQR Program-Level Certification helps institutions:

Demonstrate alignment with OSCQR standards, processes, and certification expectations.
Establish a systematic and sustainable approach to online course quality review and refresh.
Strengthen faculty development in online course design, accessibility, and continuous improvement.
Build internal capacity for faculty self-assessment, peer review, instructional designer support, and trainer preparation.
Align local programming with SUNY Online OSCQR Self-Assessment, Reviewer, and Trainer certifications.
Document course review, action planning, course improvement, and professional development outcomes.
Support accreditation, institutional effectiveness, and continuous improvement evidence.
Support SUNY Online Institutional Readiness and SUNY Online+ Signature Elements related to student support, faculty support, program support, course refresh, accessibility, and continuous quality improvement.
Promote greater consistency, accessibility, and quality across online courses and programs.
Receive consultation, feedback, and recommendations from SUNY Online Teaching.
Signal an institutional commitment to high-quality, accessible, learner-centered online education.

Recertification and Continuous Improvement

Certified programs participate in annual recertification and consultation activities to maintain up-to-date alignment with OSCQR standards, reflect on program outcomes, and identify opportunities for continued improvement. Recertification may include review of implementation outcomes, participant feedback, reviewer/trainer certification needs, course improvement evidence, and refinements to local training or review processes.

Certified programs are recognized as institutional quality initiatives aligned with OSCQR standards and SUNY Online’s established practices for online course quality review, professional development, and certification.

>> Benefits