The quality of higher education programs has been, historically, evaluated
using criteria framed by a traditional worldview of higher education, which is
centred on faculty expertise and in-class instruction as the mode of delivery. As
the result of significant changes in the past decade, higher education institutions
are responding with new program delivery models that challenge the established
concept and traditional measures of quality.
“Blended” programs represent a relatively new delivery model, combining
both on-campus and online delivery methods. Whereas traditional universities
have long-standing and well-tested methods for evaluating the quality of
programs, blended programs must be assessed using different criteria.
The purpose of this research project was, first, to identify indicators that
could be used to assess the quality of blended, graduate programs and, second, to determine which of these were the strongest indicators of program quality.
Using a logic model approach as the theoretical framework, which views
programs as systems with inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, measures
were developed and assessed by graduate students, faculty, and program
administrators. Of the 75 indicators developed, process-related measures were rated
most highly overall and outcome-related measures lowest. Thirty-three of the 75
indicators were rated most highly and, of these, graduate students, faculty, and