UH Quality Online Standards

Leeward CC has a long history of supporting quality online education. Prior to 2025, online courses were guided by the Leeward Distance Education (DE) Guidelines, a campus-developed framework informed by national best practices. In Spring 2025, Leeward began transitioning to the newly approved UH Quality Online Standards, aligning campus practices with a system-wide framework while continuing Leeward’s commitment to student-centered and culturally responsive course design.

The UH Quality Online Standards bring together nationally recognized online course design frameworks—Quality Matters (QM) and SUNY OSCQR—into a single, streamlined set of standards tailored to the UH context. The goal is to make research-based best practices more accessible and practical for instructors to apply.

Developed through a collaborative process within the UH Instructional Design Professional Learning Community (ID PLC), the standards reflect shared expertise and real teaching realities across the UH System.

1. Course Overview and Introduction (Hoʻolauna)

2. Content Presentation and Organization (Papahana)

3. Learning Engagement and Interaction (Pilina)

4. Assessment and Measurement (Hōʻike)

5. Course Technology (Paʻeʻe)

6. Accessibility and Usability (Kaulike)

Each standard is grounded in research-based practices and enriched by ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Indigenous values, aligning with UH’s mission and responsibility to the people of Hawaiʻi.

UH Quality Online Standards guide:

• Leeward Lamakū: Course Starter PLC

• Course Starter Templates and ID-Designed Courses

• Instructional design coaching and consultations

The standards are used as a supportive design framework, helping instructors make intentional decisions that enhance clarity, engagement, accessibility, and student success.