Mesa+ Rubric

Quality Online Design @ MCC

Welcome to the Rubric

The Mesa+ Rubric is a research-supported framework designed to help faculty create engaging, accessible, and learner-centered online and hybrid courses. Developed by Mesa Community College faculty and staff and approved by the Mesa Community College eLearning Committee, the rubric combines nationally recognized quality standards with evidence-based instructional practices to support continuous course improvement.

Whether you are designing a new online course, refreshing an existing course, or exploring new instructional strategies, the Mesa+ Rubric provides practical guidance for creating meaningful learning experiences that support student success.

Why Mesa+? 

The Mesa+ Rubric was created to provide faculty with a practical, flexible resource for designing and improving online and hybrid courses. Rather than serving as an evaluation or compliance checklist, the rubric supports reflection, collaboration, and continuous course improvement.

Drawing from nationally recognized quality frameworks—including the SUNY OSCQR Course Design Review Rubric, Quality Matters, and the Peralta Equity Rubric—Mesa+ has been adapted to reflect the instructional priorities and teaching practices of Mesa Community College. The rubric also incorporates current research, accessibility standards, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and federal distance education expectations, including Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) where appropriate.

Designed for both new and experienced online instructors, the Mesa+ Rubric can be used throughout the course design process from developing a new course to reviewing and refreshing an existing one. The Mesa+ provides practical, evidence-based guidance that supports the development of engaging, organized, and accessible learning experiences.

Explore the Standards

The Mesa+ Rubric is organized into seven standards, each representing an essential component of quality online and hybrid course design. Together, these standards provide a comprehensive framework for designing courses that support student success.

Begin Your Self-Review

Ready to strengthen your course? Create your own copy of the Mesa+ Rubric to reflect on your course design, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop an action plan for enhancing the online learning experience. Use the link below to create a personal copy in your Google Drive.

Request the Rubric

Note: The rubric has App Scripts in it, and you will need to select the banner message to activate them.