Nominations Are Now Open for the 2020 Quality Matters Awards and The Ron Legon Leadership Award

QM members work hard to provide students with exceptional learning environments that support their success. That work deserves to be acknowledged! Quality Matters is calling on all members who have implemented or expanded their quality assurance initiatives and demonstrated student success to nominate themselves — or encourage others to apply — for the Making a Difference for Students QM Awards. Winners will be recognized at the QM Annual Conference on Quality Assurance in Online Learning, October 25–28, 2020.

“We are invigorated by the important work that is happening across our community and look forward to celebrating the innovative ways our members put QM principles in action to improve engagement and retention of their students. The awards highlight the commitment of our QM community to continuously improve their courses and programs to support all learners — and reinforces why this work is so important,” said Dr. Deb Adair, Executive Director, Quality Matters.

Nominations for the QM Making a Difference for Students Awards are open in three categories:

• Outstanding Impact by an Individual in Higher Education

• Outstanding Impact by a Higher Education Organization

• Outstanding Impact by a K–12 Individual or Organization

These awards celebrate QM members who have made a positive impact on faculty/staff and students through their use of QM’s quality assurance process, including course and program reviews, instructional design and the application of professional development. Applying for a QM award is a way for individuals and institutions to showcase all their hard work and research around online learning, be recognized for their achievements, and make the case for others to follow suit.

“Along with recognizing the hard work that administrators, faculty and support staff have done to increase student success on our campus, this award helped motivate additional faculty to join our efforts in creating quality online courses that support all learners,” said Roger Wen, Ph.D., Senior Director of Cal State East Bay Online Campus and recipient of the 2019 Award for Outstanding Impact by a Higher Education Organization.

QM and MarylandOnline are also excited to announce that nominations are now open for The Ron Legon Leadership Award for Quality Assurance in Online Education.

This prestigious award is open to the public and is intended for an individual with at least seven years of demonstrated leadership at academic institutions or organizations related to online learning. Visionary and innovative leaders who have had a significant impact on online education quality assurance policy or practice in higher education, K–12, publishing or continuing education are encouraged to apply.

“By recognizing one extraordinary leader each year who is a champion for quality online education, we are bringing their innovative ideas and important contributions forward as a model for others to learn from and be inspired by. We are saying that this work matters and that we value your commitment to online learning,” said Dr. Ron Legon, Executive Director Emeritus, Quality Matters.

Nominations for all awards are due May 8. The winners will be announced in early October and an awards ceremony will be held at the QM Connect conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

View the criteria for the QM Making a Difference for Students Awards.  

View the Ron Legon Award criteria.

For more information, please contact Jim Snyder, Awards Committee Member, jsnyder@qualitymatters.org.

About Quality Matters

Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.