Wayne State University School of Social Work faculty members Fay Keys, DL and Norma Love-Schropshire, DSW have been selected to serve as fellows for the university’s recently announced Online Course Quality Fellows Program. This collaborative initiative, led by Provost Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo's office and the Office for Teaching and Learning, underscores the University’s dedication to elevating student success through excellence in course design and instruction.

Selected from a competitive university-wide pool of applicants, Keys and Love-Schropshire join a cohort of 10 faculty fellows tasked with spearheading a program to ensure the quality of online courses using the Quality Matters (QM) framework. Quality Matters is a nonprofit organization specializing in research-based quality assurance for online learning. Each fellow will undergo comprehensive QM training and will be compensated to conduct five course reviews annually.

"I am so proud that Dr. Fay and Dr. Norma were chosen to bring their talent and skills to this fellowship," said Debra Patterson, Acting Dean and Professor for the School of Social Work. "Their work will positively impact the quality of online education at Wayne State University, ensuring online students are prepared for their careers.” 

As an Associate Professor (Clinical) and the Education Technology Coordinator for the School of Social Work (SSW), Keys works with faculty, staff, and students to develop sophisticated learning environments that incorporate the use of advanced technologies to enhance student learning. Her current research explores the learning impact of various approaches to online learning and teaching. Additionally, Key’s research involves behavioral addictions (i.e., casino gambling), risk taking, and antisocial behaviors of urban elders. Keys has been previously recognized for her committed to quality teaching and community engagement as an inaugural member of the WSU Academy of Teachers in 2018, with the WSU President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2013, and with the SSW Teaching Award in 2021 and 2012.

"I am deeply honored to have been selected as one of the inaugural fellows for the Online Course Quality Fellows Program at Wayne State,” Keys said. “This initiative represents a pivotal step forward in our collective journey toward academic excellence, particularly in the realm of online education."

Assistant Professor (Teaching) and Bachelor of Social Work Program Director Love-Schropshire, affectionately known as “Dr. Norma”, holds a dual macro and clinical license as a master-level social work practitioner with the State of

Michigan. Love-Schropshire’s research focuses on innovation, pedagogical technology integration and the scholarship of technology enhanced learning (SoTEL). Love-Schropshire’s research takes a deep dive into the requisite knowledge, skills, abilities, values, motivators and support that educators can develop to competently integrate instructional technologies. Love-Schropshire has been recognized on multiple occasions for her commitment to WSU students, including her induction into the WSU Office for Teaching and Learning Academy of Teachers (AOT) in 2023, and as a recipient of the WSU Social Work Teaching Award in 2016, and 2022.

She emphasized the importance of continual professional development for online leaders: "My passion for this role is deeply rooted in the belief that continual professional development is critical. This commitment is the least I could do to elevate the standards of our online program."

Keys and Love-Schropshire's appointments reflect the university's dedication to innovative teaching practices and student success. As leaders in their field, their contributions to the program will have a lasting impact on the quality of online learning experiences at Wayne State.

Author: Sarah Freeman, Editor: Betsy Vanderstelt