Blinn wins Bellwether Best in Showcase Award for presentation regarding its online course quality assurance program

Blinn has been named a finalist for seven Bellwether Awards in the past five years

February 28, 2025

The Blinn College District was recently recognized as a Best in Showcase Award winner at the Bellwether College Consortium Community College Futures Assembly held in San Antonio.

Blinn was invited to present at the conference after being selected as a 2025 Bellwether Award finalist for its holistic quality assurance program designed to ensure that Blinn faculty and students are equipped to succeed in online courses.

Blinn won the Best in Showcase Award in recognition of the quality of its presentation to attendees during the celebratory kickoff. Blinn was represented at the event by Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District; Dr. Marcelo Bussiki, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Joyce Langenegger, Dean of Academic Support Services; and Katie LaRocca, Instructional Design Specialist.

Bellwether finalists represent the leading community colleges nationwide, whose outstanding and innovative programs were selected as exemplary among competitive submissions. Blinn was named one of 10 finalists in the Instructional Programs and Services category.

Blinn’s comprehensive online course quality assurance program is designed to support faculty and students, improve course quality, and enhance student outcomes.

Key elements of the program include:

• Course Design Excellence: Courses are aligned with Quality Matters® standards, the global benchmark for student-centered, evidence-based course design. A rigorous review process ensures alignment of outcomes, assessments, and activities.
• Faculty Training and Support: All faculty developing online courses complete Quality Matters® training, with additional resources provided by instructional designers and Blinn’s Center for Teaching and Learning.
• Student Preparedness: An online orientation equips students with the skills needed for success in digital learning, and expanded resources such as digital library collections and online tutoring ensure comprehensive support.

Since its implementation, the program has delivered remarkable results: Blinn’s online students now achieve higher success rates than their face-to-face peers, a significant milestone for community college learners. With over 50,000 students completing online orientation and almost 1,000 courses meeting Quality Matters® standards, Blinn’s scalable approach sets a benchmark for online learning excellence in higher education.

This year’s recognition continues Bellwether’s recent recognition of Blinn’s innovative programs and strategies. In 2021, Blinn was a Bellwether Award finalist in the Planning, Governance, and Finance category in recognition of its partnership with The Texas A&M University System at Texas A&M-RELLIS. In 2022, in addition to being named a finalist for its online orientation course, Blinn was recognized in the Workforce Development category for its offender reentry training developed in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Brazos County Detention Center.

In 2023, Blinn was recognized as a Bellwether finalist for its FutureWorks Academy, a two-semester leadership development program open to all full-time faculty, staff, and administrators, and for the Dental Hygiene Program’s annual Give Kids a Smile initiative, which supplies oral health care to local children who lack access to regular dental care. Last year, Blinn was named a Bellwether Legacy Award finalist for its role at RELLIS.