Augusta Technical College's Composition and Rhetoric Course Receives Quality Matters Certification for Course Design Quality
According to Instructor Trimble, 'developing English courses through the lens of Quality Matters has given me the tools to ensure success for all my online students.'
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Augusta Technical College's Composition and Rhetoric Course
Receives Quality Matters Certification for Course Design Quality
Augusta, GA - August 22, 2025
Augusta Technical College’s ENGL 1101 - Composition and Rhetoric course, earned the Quality Matters (QM) Certification Mark following a rigorous review process. The QM Certification Mark is the internationally recognized symbol of online and blended course design quality and represents ATC’s ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide learners with a clear pathway to success.
The certification is the result of ATC’s dedication to continuous improvement, including the innovative work of Kelsey Trimble, General Core Instructor in the School of Arts and Sciences. The course is now listed on the QM directory of certified courses.
According to Instructor Trimble, “developing English courses through the lens of Quality Matters has given me the tools to ensure success for all my online students. As an instructor, it can be easy to assume that all of my materials and learning modules help students achieve their learning outcomes; however, the Quality Matters guidelines showed me places where I needed to improve and make my course better than before. Working with the other English teachers on this project also provided me with numerous ideas for courses I will develop in the future. It was a long but rewarding process to get the course certified.”
The QM Official Review provided independent validation of the quality, learner-focused course design found in ENGL 1101. Reviews are conducted by QM-Certified Reviewers and use the Quality Matters Rubric and associated Standards, which are based on research and best practices. A course earns the QM Certification Mark once it meets QM Rubric Standards at the 85% threshold or better and meets all Essential Standards.
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About Quality Matters
Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process.
About Augusta Technical College
Augusta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary institution that provides academic and technical education, customized business and industry training, continuing education, student support, economic development, and adult education services to its service area (Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties) at a competitive financial value. Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit are provided through traditional and distance delivery methods. For more information, visit augustatech.edu.
Media Contact:
Kimberly N. Holden
Executive Director, Marketing & Public Relations
706.771.4819
kimberly.holden@augustatech.edu