Austin Peay State University Online Quality Fundamentals

Distance Education created the APSU Online Quality Fundamentals (AOQF) to promote continuous improvement of online course quality, capitalize on faculty expertise, and increase participation in course reviews.

AOQF provides a space for faculty collaboration and collegial discussion about online teaching and learning. Faculty work together as course representatives and peer reviewers to give suggestions for improvement based on the five fundamentals. AOQF reviews are an opportunity for online course representatives to receive feedback on their courses in regard to research-based course design principles.

AOQF Certified Courses:

The AOQF certification designation is an internal mark of distinction at APSU. It signifies online courses that meet our quality requirements, comply with Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) guidelines, and prioritize accessibility for a more inclusive and enriched online learning experience. This certification serves as a foundational standard, ensuring that our online courses meet essential benchmarks for quality and accessibility for our students.

AOQF course certification is valid for up to five years because courses are regularly updated and changed over the years. Faculty can choose to resubmit their course before the five-year term if the course changes significantly (20% or more). If you have questions about reevaluation, please contact Distance Education at online@apsu.edu or 931-221-6625.

REVIEW THE FIVE APSU ONLINE FUNDAMENTALS

AOQF course reviews involve several steps. Please review the information below for details on this process.

The Course Representative completes the AOQF Course Review ticket to instigate an AOQF course review of an active course they are teaching.
An AOQF Peer Reviewer is assigned to the ticket and added to the course. The AOQF Peer Reviewer will reach out to the course representative to establish a timeline and ask any questions they may have.
The AOQF Peer Reviewer completes the review by completing the AOQF Course Review Form and attaching it to the AOQF Course Review ticket.
After the review, there are two possibilities:
1. If the course meets all five AOQF fundamentals, the ticket will be closed and a course badge will be generated.
2. If the course does not meet all fundamentals, Distance Education will support the Course Representative in making changes until the course meets all fundamentals.

Discrepancy Procedure:

If a Course Review Form indicates that one or more fundamentals are not met, but the Course Representative disagrees with the decision(s), the course representative will meet with a Distance Education staff member to review the fundamental(s) in question. If no resolution is reached, then three AOQF Peer Reviewers will be asked to review the course for the fundamental(s) in question. The three AOQF Peer Reviewers will individually provide a decision of “met” or “not met” for the disputed fundamental(s). The final determination regarding whether the fundamental(s) were met or not met is based on the majority decision among the three AOQF Peer Reviewers.

This procedure aims to ensure a fair and objective resolution of disagreements while maintaining the integrity of the AOQF Course Review Program.

If you have an active online course you want to get peer-reviewed, please review the eligibility requirements below.

To be eligible to participate in the AOQF program:

The course must be fully developed and active during the current term.
The course cannot be a Sandbox.
The course must not have been previously reviewed by Distance Education or Quality Matters.

You may submit a request by completing the online AOQF Course Review ticket.

AOQF Peer Reviewers are compensated for completing accurate, timely AOQF reviews of online courses at APSU. If you have completed the APPQMR and have taught an online course in the last year, you could provide invaluable feedback to other APSU faculty. To become an AOQF Peer Reviewer, please complete the following steps:

Submit a Peer Reviewer ticket to start your application and be enrolled in the AOQF Peer Reviewer Workshop in D2L.
Once enrolled, complete the AOQF Peer Reviewer Workshop and earn the certificate.
After successfully completing the workshop, upload your certificate to your original ticket application.
Meet with a DE representative and start reviewing courses once assigned.

Beginning in Fall 2024, the AOQF Peer Reviewer compensation will be tracked and processed solely by Distance Education (i.e. no longer in conjunction with CAFE Perks). AOQF Peer Reviewers will be eligible to receive $500 after finishing three consecutive AOQF reviews that are complete, timely, and accurate. They will have the following options as to how they can receive payment:

Travel – AOQF Peer Reviewers can use this option to assist in funding travel-related expenses (airfare, conference fees, etc.). If they use funds for travel, they must complete their travel by April 30, 2026. Travel claims must be completed by May 15, 2026 to ensure fiscal year 2026 funds are utilized. If they choose to use the compensation for travel, they will need to contact Krista Hemby (hembyk@apsu.edu) to provide her with the name of the person filling out the travel authorization and claim. Since approvers cannot be added to the travel system, Krista will need to be notified via email when the departmental FOAP is used to pay for faculty expenses.
Professional Development – If they choose to purchase professional development supplies, they will need to contact Krista Hemby (hembyk@apsu.edu) to provide her with the contact information of the person making the purchase. Krista will send the contact person the Distance Education departmental FOAP and an email confirming that the Executive Director has approved the use of our FOAP to make the purchase. All purchases must be completed by May 15, 2026 and received by June 1, 2026.
Extra Compensation – AOQF Peer Reviewers can choose to have earned funds paid as extra compensation (keep in mind that your compensation will be taxed). Please email Krista Hemby (hembyk@apsu.edu) to request the funds as extra compensation, and she will route an Adobe Sign document to the appropriate parties.

Please note:

The AOQF Peer Reviewer must contact Krista Hemby (hembyk@apsu.edu) in Distance Education to specify their fund disbursement preference. If they have not contacted Distance Education by May 15, 2026, all funds owed to AOQF Peer Reviewers will be paid out as extra compensation by default.
If you use a personal credit card to pay for PD supplies, you will receive your fund disbursement as extra compensation.

AOQF Course Review Form: Please fill this form out when completing a review of a peer's course.

AOQF Course Review Checklist: Please use this checklist as a reference guide when reviewing a course for the five fundamentals.

AOQF Guidebook: Please use this guidebook to help you complete the Course Review Form.

GET YOUR COURSE REVIEWED APPLY TO BE A PEER REVIEWER