What is Peer Online Course Review (POCR)?
The California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative
Peer Online Course Review (POCR) was established in 2014 by the California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative (CVC-OEI) Professional Development Workgroup to ensure that students in the California Community College system have access to high-quality online courses designed to support student learning and success.
As of Spring 2025, Crafton Hills College is a Certified Local POCR Campus, meaning that we have an experienced team of faculty trained to conduct course reviews, and our work has been vetted and approved by the CVC-OEI.
During POCR, CHC reviewers use the 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric as the standard for a high-quality online course. The CVC-OEI rubric has undergone revisions and updates since 2014 in response to changes in available instructional technology and feedback from both instructors and reviewers. There are four sections of the CVC Online Course Design Rubric:
Section 0 is Backward Design, Course Clean-Up, and Accessibility — instructors are expected to clean up and make the course accessible before starting the POCR process. We have easy ways to prepare for and complete Section 0! We also have an accessibility professional who can review your course for accessibility and assist with remediations as you participate in the review of Sections 1–4.
Section 1
Policies and Support
Section 2
Course Structure
Section 3
Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI)
Section 4
Assessments
You may view the 2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric below:
2027 CVC Online Course Design Rubric
When a course is fully aligned with the Course Design Rubric, it is eligible for the "CVC Quality Reviewed" badge in the Student-Centered Course Exchange (see the badge image above). The CVC Exchange is a mechanism for students in California to take online courses at any community college in the state.
Reaching Alignment
As you review the rubric sections above, each individual element can be rated as "Incomplete," "Approaching Alignment," "Aligned," or "Exceptional." These determinations are made by the POCR Team as they review your online course. Any element found to be "Incomplete" or "Approaching Alignment" must be revised to achieve a rating of either "Aligned" or "Exceptional."
Opening your online course to review by faculty colleagues might feel a bit intimidating. Rest assured, our POCR Team is here to support your professional development as an online instructor — not to judge you. POCR is not punitive, nor is it part of full-time or part-time faculty evaluations. On the contrary, POCR can help prepare instructors for their routine evaluations! This is a faculty-driven initiative at CHC, and we adhere to strict confidentiality when reviewing courses.