Quality Matters (QM) — a trusted partner to thousands of educators at colleges, universities, and K-12 schools worldwide, providing quality assurance for online and innovative digital learning environments — today announced the launch of a new strategic consulting and advisory service designed to help colleges and universities navigate the complex process of incorporating online and digital learning into their institutional strategy. Geared toward leaders at new, emerging or reimagined online programs, QM Consulting will provide hands-on consulting, research, advisory, and strategic planning services designed to help colleges make sense of a fast-evolving landscape for online and hybrid education.
“Shifting demographics and mounting financial pressures are challenging institutions to rethink traditional models and adapt to an evolving market. While nearly every college and university is now thinking seriously about using online and digital learning, many are struggling with where to begin,” said Dr. Deb Adair, CEO of Quality Matters. “This is about giving institutions the practical guidance and hands-on advice to build online programs that aren’t just responsive to student demand, but also deliver high-impact, high-quality learning experiences.”
Many institutions are strengthening their focus on online education as a core institutional strategy as they grapple with declining or flat enrollment, shifting demographics, declining tuition revenue, and other funding constraints. Nearly half of institutional leaders surveyed indicated that enrollment in online degree programs at their institutions is growing faster than enrollment in on-campus programs, with increased demand for online options from on-campus students. Nearly a third said their institutions have “fully incorporated online into their institutional strategy,” with even greater numbers among online leaders at community colleges (48%).
QM Consulting is designed to meet institutions at any stage of their online learning journey, offering support for both emerging and established online programs. Institutional leaders just beginning their online learning efforts can tap into QM Consulting’s bench of experts to build a foundation of quality to help drive long-term enrollment, retention and completion.
To lead its new consulting arm, Quality Matters has appointed Dr. Racheal Brooks — who joins the organization from her most recent role as director of e-learning at North Carolina Central University — and Dr. Bethany Simunich — Vice President of Innovation and Research at Quality Matters and former Director of Online Pedagogy and Research at Kent State Online — as co-leads of QM Consulting. Both bring extensive experience working within traditional higher education institutions to design, build and sustain online programs from the ground up — and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities colleges face when integrating digital learning into institutional strategy.
As colleges and universities navigate the growing complexities of digital and online education, QM Consulting offers tailored services to help institutions align their strategies with evolving student needs and institutional goals. Drawing on Quality Matters’ proven methodologies, the consulting arm focuses on enhancing faculty and student success, building internal quality assurance frameworks to meet accreditation standards, and guiding the development of competitive online programs that prioritize quality. By providing customized support, QM Consulting empowers institutions to create sustainable, high-impact online learning programs that drive student success and institutional performance.
QM Consulting draws on over two decades of experience working with over 1,300+ institutions globally, certifying more than 15,000 courses and dozens of programs. Institutions that partner with QM have consistently reported improvements in student engagement, retention, and satisfaction.
“Many institutions have begun offering online versions of their most popular on-campus courses, but fewer have tapped into the transformative potential that high-quality, engaging online programs can deliver across their entire curriculum,” said Dr. Bethany Simunich, Vice President for Innovation and Research at Quality Matters and Co-Director of the CHLOE research project. “The real opportunity — and challenge — lies in leveraging online education not just as an add-on, but as a strategic asset that can redefine an institution’s value proposition and ensure its long-term viability.”
For institutions seeking to differentiate themselves in a competitive online learning landscape, QM Consulting offers customized strategy sessions tailored to institutional goals, support for accreditation and annual evaluations, and sustainable, scalable approaches to online program development. To learn more about QM Consulting, visit www.qualitymatters.org or contact info@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 Recognition and Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course or Program Quality Standards in a rigorous review process.
