LMS Governance and Course Standards

1. Purpose & Scope

1.1 Purpose

This document establishes standards for course creation, instructor qualifications, certification issuance, and overall learning management system governance. It ensures consistent quality across all educational offerings.

1.2 Scope

• All courses hosted on the Elevate For Humanity LMS
• Instructor onboarding and ongoing requirements
• Certification and credential issuance
• Student enrollment, progress tracking, and completion
• Content quality and accessibility standards

2. Course Types & Structure

2.1 Course Categories

2.2 Course Structure Requirements

• Modules: Courses divided into logical modules (3-10 per course)
• Lessons: Each module contains 3-8 lessons (15-45 minutes each)
• Assessments: Minimum one quiz per module, final assessment required
• Resources: Downloadable materials, reference guides, supplementary content

•3. Course Creation Standards

3.1 Content Requirements

• Learning Objectives: Clear, measurable objectives for each module
• Accuracy: All content fact-checked and current
• Originality: Original content or properly licensed materials
• Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA compliant (captions, transcripts, alt text)
• Language: Clear, professional English; reading level appropriate to audience

3.2 Media Standards

3.3 Assessment Standards

• Questions aligned with stated learning objectives
• Minimum 70% passing score for certifications
• Question bank with randomization for retakes
• Clear feedback for incorrect answers
• Time limits appropriate to content complexity

4. Instructor Requirements

4.1 Qualification Requirements

4.2 Instructor Onboarding

1. Application with credentials and sample content
2. Background check (for courses involving minors or financial topics)
3. Platform training (LMS tools, accessibility requirements)
4. Content review and approval process
5. Agreement to Instructor Terms and Code of Conduct

4.3 Ongoing Requirements

• Maintain active credentials/licenses
• Update course content annually (or as regulations change)
• Respond to student questions within 48 hours
• Maintain minimum 4.0 rating (5-point scale)
• Complete annual platform training updates

5. Certification & Credentials

5.1 Certificate Types

5.2 Certificate Contents

• Student name (as registered)
• Course title and description
• Completion date
• Hours completed
• Unique certificate ID (verifiable)
• Issuing organization (Elevate For Humanity)
• Instructor name (for instructor-led courses)

5.3 Verification

All certificates include a unique ID and QR code linking to verification page. Employers and institutions can verify certificate authenticity at elevateforhumanity.org/verify.

•6. Quality Assurance

6.1 Course Review Process

1. Initial Review: Content accuracy, alignment with objectives
2. Technical Review: Media quality, accessibility compliance
3. Pilot Testing: Beta testing with sample students
4. Final Approval: Director of Education sign-off

6.2 Ongoing Quality Metrics

6.3 Content Updates

• Annual review of all courses
• Immediate updates for regulatory changes (tax law, compliance)
• Quarterly review of student feedback
• Version control for all course materials

7. Student Policies

7.1 Enrollment

• Account required for enrollment
• Prerequisites clearly stated and enforced where applicable
• Enrollment confirmation with course access details
• 14-day refund window (if <20% completed)

7.2 Progress & Completion

• Progress saved automatically
• Course access for 12 months from enrollment (or as specified)
• Completion requires viewing all content and passing assessments
• Certificate issued within 24 hours of completion

7.3 Academic Integrity

• Assessments must be completed independently
• Sharing assessment answers prohibited
• Identity verification for professional certifications
• Violations result in certificate revocation and account suspension

8. Roles & Responsibilities

9. Versioning & Review

Review Schedule: Annually, or upon significant changes to educational offerings or accreditation requirements.