NEWS RELEASEFor Immediate Release: April 10, 2015

DEAC Announces Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC)
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) Innovations Lab is pleased to introduce
Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC), a new peer-review assessment service designed for providers ofonline courses delivered directly to learners. DEAC is launching AQC as policy makers, regulators, andthe broader higher education community consider effective quality assurance protocols for innovative“non-institutional” providers.
“The AQC is an example of DEAC’s commitment to innovations that expand opportunities for online
learning and respond to demands for affordability and accessibility,” said Dr. Leah Matthews, DEAC
Executive Director. “The AQC process is an important step forward for quality assessment of new
distance learning models that are transforming higher education.”
Sophia Learning and StraighterLine are the first to receive AQC status for their online courses.
The standards and procedures for AQC were vetted through an intensive nine-month study conductedby DEAC’s Innovation Lab. StraighterLine and Sophia Learning participated in the study and offered
important feedback about the process. "Today's learners need more engaging, flexible, and affordableoptions.” said Dr. Kashif Asdi, Chief Academic Officer at Sophia Learning. “Having the AQC status
added to Sophia courses gives learners confidence in the quality of our courses as an alternative
option to make significant progress toward degree completion."
Burck Smith, CEO and founder of StraighterLine stated "DEAC is to be congratulated for taking aleadership role in reviewing curricula and courses from providers outside of traditional highereducation. StraighterLine is honored to have had its courses validated and vetted by acknowledged
leaders in quality online education provision."
Peer reviewers who evaluated the submissions from Sophia Learning and StraighterLine recognize thequality of the courses and the AQC process. “I was personally impressed with the quality of thecurriculum submissions by Sophia Learning and StraighterLine”, said Dr. Josette Katz, Professor,Atlantic Cape Community College. “Serving as the chair of a college-wide curriculum committee, I
regularly review curriculum proposals from many disciplines. The curricula submitted for AQC were ofextremely high quality. The AQC review process was comprehensive and I can say with utmost
confidence that the AQC designation affirms the quality, reliability, and effectiveness of thecurriculum.”
A hallmark of DEAC accreditation is its focus on how individual courses facilitate a mastery oflearning objectives within the broader framework of a distance education program. “AQC is a natural
outgrowth of DEAC’s extensive experience in reviewing distance education courses,” said Dr. TimMott, Director of Off-Campus Programs at Cincinnati State. “I was impressed with Sophia’s andStraighterLine’s responsiveness to AQC standards and their willingness to fully engage in suggestions
for improvement.”
To learn more about AQC, please visit www.deac.org/AQC.
###MEDIA CONTACT:Leah Matthews, Executive Director(202) 234-5100
leah.matthews@deac.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Robert Chalifoux, Director, Media and Events(202) 234-5100
rob.chalifoux@deac.org