The Department of Mathematics recently received Quality Matters certification for two of its online classes, Calculus IV and Mathematical Logic. The Calculus course was designed by Young You, Ph.D., a faculty member in mathematics, while the Logic course was developed by Markus Pomper, Ph.D., who is also a mathematician and who serves as the dean of the school of Natural Science and Mathematics. Both courses are part of Indiana University East’s successful online mathematics program, which is one of only a few online mathematics programs nationwide that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. In the current fall semester, the program enrolls approximately 250 students from around the country.  

Quality Matters is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and improve the quality of online education and student learning. Quality Matters uses a rigorous rubric, consisting of 42 specific review criteria, in order to evaluate the design of online courses. These criteria examine whether the course communicates measurable learning outcomes and whether the design elements of the course are structured in a way that allows learners to achieve those outcomes. Both courses received a perfect 100-point score on the evaluation.

You said, “QM-certified courses are designed to promote social, cognitive, and teaching presence. They do this by using a variety of techniques, such as well-organized content that is easy to understand, clear learning objectives and expectations, opportunities for learners to interact with each other and the instructor, feedback on learner progress, and support for learners with disabilities. By using these techniques, QM-certified courses can help all learners achieve their learning goals.”    

“Achieving Quality Matters certification for a course is no small feat,” dean Pomper said. “It can take years of refining and tinkering with a course design in order to achieve this certification.” Pomper explained that Indiana University East aims to have all of its mathematics courses receive the coveted Quality Matters certification. “We want to offer the best experience for our students,” Pomper said. “We offer excellence in course design and highly qualified faculty who engage students in their classes, through undergraduate research, and co-curricular activities – all offered 100% online.”

About the Mathematics Program at Indiana University East 
The Mathematics program at IU East leads to a B.S. in Mathematics. The program offers flexible options with start dates in August, October, January, March, and May. Classes are offered in 8-week or 16-week formats, thus allowing for accelerated or traditional pacing of coursework. Classes are fully online with no on-campus meetings required.  Faculty are teacher-scholars who engage their online students in undergraduate research projects.