What is an LAS Online Certified Course?
An LAS Online Certified course is an online undergraduate course within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) that has undergone a formal review process led by ATLAS Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) and the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL). Certification is optional but highly encouraged, as it ensures courses meet LAS standards for accessibility, pedagogy, and compliance while offering added benefits for students, instructors, and departments.
Why Pursue Certification?
Benefits for Students:
LAS Online Certified courses follow best practices in online teaching, including accessibility and clear structure, making them easier for students to navigate and understand.
Benefits for Instructors:
LAS Online Certified courses are designed to be easier to teach, with a clear and consistent structure that reduces instructor workload and stress. For example, the presence of an instructional activities table in each of the course modules allows students to see what is expected of them in any given week in a succinct and organized way. Instructors spend less time helping students navigate course logistics and more time focusing on teaching.
Benefits for Departments:
Departments offering LAS Online Certified courses in summer and winter terms can participate in the per-IU preferential revenue-sharing model. To participate, departments must inform the ATLAS TLT Team about the courses and instructors. ATLAS will then review the course sites and collaborate as needed to meet certification standards.
Want to learn more about the revenue-sharing model? Contact the ATLAS TLT Team.
How Certification Works
The certification process begins the same way as all LAS online course development: instructors submit the LAS Online Course Development Form. Proposal deadlines and priority criteria are outlined on the Online Course Development and Redevelopment page.
Once your proposal has been accepted, these are the next steps:
- Consultation & Documentation
ATLAS TLT and CITL work with you to finalize required documents, including:- Intellectual Property Rights Letter
- Document of Shared Understanding (DSU)
- Any necessary financial documentation
- Course Development
With support from ATLAS and CITL, you create or update course materials according to the DSU. - Quality Assurance Review
Before certification is granted, your course undergoes a thorough review for: - Approval & Stipend Payment
Once your course passes review, it is approved for instruction and any agreed-upon course development stipend is processed. - Post-Term Review
After summer and winter terms, ATLAS TLT conducts a secondary review of certified courses to confirm compliance and initiate departmental revenue-sharing transfers.
Financial Incentives
Departmental Incentive
Certified undergraduate courses offered in summer and winter are eligible for a preferential per-IU revenue-sharing model.
Instructor Stipends
Monetary support may be available for developing or revising online courses. Instructors should provide an estimate of hours needed during the proposal process.
- Stipends are calculated at $50/hour, typically capped at $2,500 per credit hour (e.g., up to $7,500 for a 3-credit course).
- Payment is issued after certification is complete.