USC has launched a structured Online Course Quality Review Process to support the design and delivery of high-quality online courses, with an initial focus on high-enrollment undergraduate courses. This effort is part of a Provost quality review initiative to strengthen online teaching and learning across the university.
As part of the pilot phase, 85 online courses scheduled for Summer and Fall 2026, each with 50 or more students enrolled, successfully completed the review process. These courses represent a range of disciplines and colleges, including the College of Information and Communications, School of Music, College of Education, Darla Moore School of Business, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Nursing.
The process is guided by the Quality Standards for Online Courses and emphasizes collaboration between faculty and instructional designers or college-based reviewers. Faculty focused on designing courses that are clearly organized, aligned with learning outcomes and assessments, and structured to support student success in the online environment.
Colleges such as the College of Nursing, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management led their own reviews using internal instructional design teams or peer review models. Other units partnered with the Center for Teaching Excellence, allowing flexibility while maintaining consistent standards across the university.
The process supports course development and continuous improvement. Faculty received feedback and guidance throughout, with opportunities to refine course design before a final review.
Courses that met the standards were confirmed through a final review and recorded for institutional tracking. Faculty whose courses successfully completed the process received a letter of commendation.
This pilot phase marks an important step in a multi-year effort to review all undergraduate online courses. The process will continue to expand, establishing a regular review cycle that supports strong course design and a consistent, high-quality student experience across USC.
This effort also reflects a broader commitment to strengthening the culture of quality in online teaching. Educators are encouraged to proactively enhance their courses by engaging with available resources, including instructional design support, video and multimedia guidance, short courses, online guides, and upcoming webinars in the fall. These opportunities provide practical guidance to support course design, development, delivery, and continuous course improvement.