Loyola Online Programs Earn Quality Matters Certification
Loyola Online programs have been honored with the prestigious Quality Matters certification for Online Learner Support. Loyola University New Orleans is one of only twelve universities with this certification and the only one in Louisiana.
Quality Matters certification recognizes programs that provide all the critical student and academic services needed for learner success and also use student feedback to make continual improvements to their services.
The rigorous certification program requires universities to demonstrate how it measures student success. Quality Matters then provides an objective review of those benchmarks and determines whether they are an effective measure of student success for that university.
“This certification is a testament to the excellent work that we have done since 2019 in improving our services and assisting our online students, especially as we developed the Online Student Success Office,” said Corina Caraccioli, assistant dean of online and City College and who led the charge to obtain the honor “We have a holistic approach to online student success and collaboration between staff from different units and faculty is key in this process.”
The comprehensive application process focused on a variety of services: orientation to online study, technical support, academic advising, proctoring and student authentication, tutoring, grade appeals, remote library access, accessibility services, records and registration, financial aid services, billing, institutional and student policies. Loyola was required to provide detailed narratives explaining how each service supports the online learner and promotes learner success, and the plan to address any gaps in these services.
Paul Cesarini, dean of online and digital learning and City College, praised Caraccioli for her efforts.
“Earning this certification typically takes 15-18 months, with several rounds of revisions and resubmissions. Corina managed to accomplish it flawlessly within six months,” Cesarini said. “This is an incredible accomplishment and an important signal to prospective online students that Loyola will give them all the resources they need to be successful.”