NC State Course Quality Team and Faculty Share Best Practices at UNC System QM Summit

NC State faculty and DELTA’s Course Quality team took center stage at the 2025 UNC System Quality Matters (QM) Summit, held Sept. 26, 2025, at North Carolina Central University. The event brought together educators and instructional designers from across the UNC System to share insights on course design, faculty development and student engagement.

Several former DELTA Course Improvement (CI) grant recipients – many of whom are now active contributors to DELTA’s Course Quality (CQ) Program – presented sessions highlighting how QM standards enhance online and hybrid course experiences.

“Our presenters embody the spirit of continuous improvement that drives DELTA’s Course Quality initiatives,” said Arlene Mendoza-Moran, assistant director for course quality and CI Grant facilitator. “Their work illustrates how faculty across disciplines are leveraging research and collaboration to elevate teaching and learning at NC State.”

Faculty Presentations and Highlights

Flipped Course Requirements and Student Outcomes

• Presented by Justin Post, Department of Statistics, College of Sciences

A former CI grant recipient and CQ faculty mentor and current CQ research fellow, Post shared findings on how different engagement requirements and incentive structures on pre-class work in a flipped course influence student outcomes and engagement.

Setting the Course: Engaging Faculty in Course Quality Research

• Presented by Tamara Pandolfo, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources

Also a former CI Grant recipient and current CQ research fellow, Pandolfo discussed her experience transitioning from her role as a scientific researcher to that of an educational researcher, with a focus on the professional development opportunities that supported her on this journey.

Creativity in Motion: Designing Engaging, QM-Aligned Physical Activity-Based Courses

• Presented by Ashley White, Brenda Watson and Peter Koutroumpis, Department of Health and Exercise Studies, University College

This team — each a former CI Grant recipient, with Koutroumpis also serving as a CQ faculty mentor — shared how they creatively designed and enhanced online activity and lecture-activity courses to meet QM standards while preserving the integrity of active, hands-on learning.

Inside the QM Journey: Grant-Winning Faculty Reflections on Course Design, Challenges and Growth

• Presented by Fiona Wang (Department of English), Edeoba Edobor (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics) and Arlene Mendoza-Moran (DELTA Course Quality Program)

This session offered an inside look at the CI Grant experience, featuring reflections from faculty who have redesigned courses through the program. Presenters discussed lessons learned, challenges overcome and the impact of QM-informed design on student success.

Broader Impact and Faculty Achievements

Together, these sessions highlighted the sustained impact of DELTA’s Course Improvement Grants and the Course Quality Program in supporting faculty innovation, pedagogical research and student-centered design. Through ongoing mentorship, research fellowships and faculty partnerships, the CQ team continues to strengthen NC State’s reputation as a leader in high-quality online and blended learning.

In addition to the Summit presentations, DELTA congratulates the following NC State faculty whose courses achieved Quality Matters certification this fall semester for the following courses:

• Edeoba Edobor, Agribusiness Marketing
• Fiona Wang, Communication for Business Management
• Erica Kosal, Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences
• Pooneh Lari, Advanced Instructional Design
• Stefanie Robinson, Consumer Behavior
• Trino Ascencio-Ibáñez, Biochemistry of Gene Expression

Their commitment to course quality and student success exemplifies NC State’s dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in teaching and learning.