Resources & Support

The “Applying the Quality Matters Rubric” (APPQMR) workshop at UAMS is typically offered via Zoom in four sessions, each lasting about two hours. Participants must attend all sessions to receive certification for the workshop. National QM online versions can vary, often spanning one to two weeks.¹⁵ 

• UAMS Internal Reviews: The timeline for an internal review can vary depending on reviewer availability and course complexity, but often takes a few weeks from start to completion of the feedback report.¹³ 
• Official QM Reviews: These have a more structured timeline. The review itself is typically conducted over several weeks. If a course does not initially meet all standards, there is an amendment phase where the faculty member has up to 14 weeks to make revisions and resubmit evidence.¹³ 

Participation in Quality Matters initiatives, including workshops and course reviews, is generally voluntary and aimed at supporting faculty in enhancing their online courses.⁵ However, specific departments or programs at UAMS may establish their own expectations or requirements. It’s best to check with your department head or the Office of Educational Development for any UAMS-specific policies. 

Quality Matters includes a dedicated General Standard (Standard 8) on “Accessibility and Usability,” which guides the design of courses to be accessible for all learners.⁷ Applying these QM standards will significantly improve the accessibility of your course. However, it’s crucial to remember that meeting QM’s accessibility standards does not automatically guarantee full compliance with all specific UAMS accessibility policies or federal/state legal requirements.⁷ Faculty are responsible for ensuring their courses meet all UAMS institutional and legal accessibility mandates. The QM framework serves as an excellent guide and support in achieving this. Consult UAMS accessibility resources (linked below) for specific institutional guidance. 

Quality Matters reviews focus on the design of the course and do not impact the intellectual property rights of the course content. Intellectual property ownership at UAMS is governed by UAMS policies. Engaging in a QM review does not transfer ownership of your course materials to Quality Matters or UAMS (beyond standard institutional policies). For specific questions regarding intellectual property, please consult official UAMS policies or the UAMS Office of General Counsel. 

(See Understanding Review Types on the Get Involved: Engaging with QM at UAMS page for a detailed explanation.) 

The UAMS Office of Educational Development (OED) offers significant support for faculty looking to revise their courses, including those based on QM feedback. This includes instructional design consultations, assistance with Course Design & Review, and workshops on teaching and instructional design.³ You can contact the Instructional Design Team via the Instructional Design page to schedule a consultation.⁶ 

As UAMS is a QM-subscribing institution, faculty and relevant staff can create a MyQM account on the Quality Matters website.⁷ This account provides access to resources like the QM Rubric Workbook and the Course Review Management System (CRMS). If you encounter any issues creating or accessing your MyQM account, please contact Scott Wright (sawright@uams.edu) or the Office of Educational Development for assistance. 

(See “Key QM Terms Explained” below for definitions of common QM terminology.)