The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) is committed to supporting instructors in developing high-quality online courses. Whether you are designing a new course or revising an existing one, the ATLAS Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) team, in partnership with the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL), are here to provide guidance and support throughout the process.
Support is available for all LAS Online courses – whether or not they pursue LAS Online Certification.
Why Consider Certification?
Although certification is not required, many instructors choose to pursue LAS Online Course Certification for undergraduate courses because it:
- Ensures alignment with LAS standards for accessibility, pedagogy, and institutional compliance
- Enhances the student experience through clear structure and intuitive course navigation
- Reduces instructor workload by streamlining course organization and design
- Enables financial incentives for departments through revenue sharing during summer and winter terms
Proposal Process: Key Information
LAS instructors may submit proposals for course development projects. While all proposals are welcome, priority is given to courses that:
- Demonstrate strong enrollment potential and clear student demand
- Are required for majors or academic programs
- Fulfill General Education requirements
Exceptions may be considered for non-required or elective courses.
Support levels vary based on the course’s intended designation:
- Courses seeking LAS Online Certification - ATLAS and CITL will provide hands-on instructional design and development support. This includes active collaboration with the instructor throughout the course build, guidance on meeting certification standards, and structured quality review.
- Courses not seeking LAS Online Certification - The LAS Online team will share a curated set of campus resources and development guidance. Instructors may use these resources to independently design and build their own online course, with support available on a consultative basis as needed.
Proposal Deadlines
To receive full consideration, proposals should be submitted by the following dates:
- Fall cycle: Friday, October 17, 2025
- Spring cycle: Friday, March 13, 2026
Please note:
- Proposals are reviewed only during designated RFP cycles.
- Submission does not guarantee approval. Possible outcomes include approved, deferred, or not preferred for development at this time.
Proposal Start Dates
Because ATLAS and CITL operate with limited development and media capacity, approved projects typically begin the semester following the proposal cycle. Project start dates and timelines must align with available resources; in some cases, start times may be delayed.
Support ATLAS Provides
ATLAS offers consultation and guidance in the following areas:
- Online course design and structure
- Accessibility and copyright considerations
- Alignment with LAS Online standards
Media production support (e.g., video creation and editing) depends on CITL availability and cannot always be offered immediately.
Completed courses are evaluated using the LAS Custom Quality Matters rubric to ensure quality and consistency.
Instructor Expectations
Instructors may begin drafting or revising course materials at any time. However, we recommend consulting with ATLAS before producing video or other multimedia content. Early production may require revision to meet LAS Online standards and accessibility requirements.
Timelines & Capacity
Course development timelines vary based on course complexity, instructional goals, and the availability of instructors, instructional designers, and media staff. Courses with significant multimedia components may require extended development periods.
ATLAS is committed to supporting high-quality online instruction and will work collaboratively with instructors to establish realistic timelines within our available capacity.