To support faculty in designing learner-centered, high-quality online courses, a small team of MCC faculty and staff developed the Mesa+ Rubric—a flexible tool for reviewing and improving online course design. While based on the SUNY OSCQR rubric, Mesa+ also integrates elements from Quality Matters and the Peralta Equity Rubric.
Mesa+ stands out from other online course quality rubrics in several important ways. It is not limited to established or fully developed courses. Instead, it can be used formatively with new online faculty to guide and inform course design from the outset. Importantly, it is a non-evaluative tool intended to support professional growth rather than assess performance. The rubric also includes prompts for reflecting on Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI), a critical component of effective online teaching.
Rather than serving as a formal evaluation or compliance measure, the Mesa+ rubric and its associated course review and refresh process are framed as professional development. The focus is on helping faculty adopt research-based practices to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of their online courses. The process encourages self-assessment, peer feedback, and expert collaboration, fostering a supportive and reflective approach to online course improvement.