Course Design Review (OSCQR)
About the Course Design Review Process
The Course Design Review process promotes continuous improvement in instructional design of online asynchronous, online synchronous, hybrid plus, and hybrid courses. This research-based course design review and enhancement model was developed to offer a team approach to the application of instructional design principles to online and hybrid courses.
Faculty and instructional designers work together throughout the Course Design Review process, using the OSCQR tool to promote systematic reflection on elements of course design that promote quality learning experiences for students and achievement of the desired learning outcomes. This process is intended to assist in conversations about how we can strengthen student learning experiences by using effective practices in instructional design.
Cohort Model
Members of the J-Term/Spring 2027 Cohort for Course Design Reviews will have access to teaching and technology experts as well as a cohort of peers throughout the Course Design Review process. This cohort model provides dedicated work time while building community with and learning from online faculty peers.
Timeline: J-Term/Spring 2027 Courses
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Communicate intent to department | Before engaging in the course design review process |
| Request a Brightspace development shell | March 1, 2026 |
| Develop/redesign course in Brightspace | April 30, 2026 |
| Request a Course Design Review | May 1, 2026 |
| Complete Self-Review in OSCQR | May 31, 2026 |
| ID Review Complete | July 1, 2026 |
| Checkpoint 1: Early Update Check | July 31, 2026 |
| Checkpoint 2: Mid-Phase Update Check | August 21, 2026 |
| Checkpoint 3: Final Update Check | September 18, 2026 |
| Complete Course Design Review Process (in preparation for Banner preview) | October 7, 2026 |
Course Design Review (OSCQR) Process
Communicate Intent to Department
Check with your department to ensure that this course can be offered online or hybrid. You may provide information as to why the modality will benefit the student learning experience.
Before continuing with the Course Design Review process, faculty should have online teaching credentials (e.g., completion of online course development series, credentials from an outside institution or reputable organization in online teaching and learning).
Request a Brightspace Development Shell
Request a Brightspace development shell to begin your course development or to work on course redesign. As you're developing or redesigning your course, use the standards from the OSCQR tool to inform your course design. The development shell will be used throughout the course design review process.
Request a Course Design Review
After the course is fully developed in a Brightspace development shell, faculty can request a Course Design Review. Requests should be submitted at least 4 months before the course is scheduled in Banner to allow enough time to complete the Course Design Review (OSCQR) process.
Meet with Course Design Review Team
Meet with instructional designer from the Course Design Review team to discuss the course, OSCQR tool, process, and timeline.
Complete OSCQR Rubrics
Review course design using the OSCQR tool.
- Faculty begin by completing a self-review of the course design.
- Instructional designer review
Multiple meetings may occur during this phase.
Develop Action Plan
Meet with instructional designer to discuss Course Design Reviews with the OSCQR tool and identify course updates. Multiple meetings may occur during this phase to discuss course design.
Update Course Design
Update course design as needed based on reviews to ensure OSCQR standards are present in course design. This update period may include several cycles of updating the course design, checking these updates based on the OSCQR standards, providing updated recommendations, meeting to discuss course design, and implementing updates to course design.
The following required checkpoints help ensure steady progress:
Checkpoint 1: Early Update Check
By this date, you should have initial updates ready to review. These may be small or early-stage changes, but they should clearly show that revision work has begun.
Checkpoint 2: Mid-Phase Update Check
By this date, you should have visible, continued progress ready to share. Any areas you’ve been actively working on should reflect ongoing improvements.
Checkpoint 3: Final Update Check
By this date, most of your updates should be in place and ready for review. Substantial, review-ready progress should be evident. At this phase, you should have minimal updates left to make to your course design. The instructional designer will provide recommendations needed to meet any remaining OSCQR standards by the deadline.
Course Design Review (OSCQR) Process Complete
The Course Design Review (OSCQR) process is complete when all "essential" OSCQR standards are marked as "sufficiently present". The instructional designer provides feedback from review to the instructor, department chair, and/or associate dean.
Why OSCQR
OSCQR is a tool developed by SUNY to ensure courses meet quality instructional design and accessibility standards, and are regularly and systematically reviewed, refreshed, and improved to reflect campus guidelines and research-based online effective practices. In 2016, OSCQR was adopted as the Online Learning Consortium's Online Quality Scorecard. OSCQR is openly licensed for anyone to use and adapt.
Buffalo State OSCQR Tool - Version History
- Spring 2020
- Buffalo State adapted the SUNY OSCQR tool to incorporate input from faculty representatives from each of Buffalo State's colleges in order to reflect the needs of Buffalo State faculty, students, and courses.
- Fall 2021
- The OSCQR tool was updated to incorporate federal US Department of Education regulatory definitions of distance education that require institutions to ensure regular and substantive interaction (RSI) between a student and an instructor(s).
- Fall 2023
- The OSCQR tool was updated based on recommendations from the associate deans from each school.
- Spring 2024
- The Online Oversight and Readiness Committee formed an Online Synchronous Task group to review OSCQR standards and make any updates needed for synchronous course design.
- Fall 2024
- OSCQR was updated to further incorporate EITA digital content accessibility standards based on recommendations from the Institutional Readiness Course Design and Development subgroup.
- Spring 2025
- OSCQR was updated to further incorporate Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA.