Photo: FSW's Criminal Justice Technology program plaque commemorating its Quality Matters Exemplary Program recognition.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – JULY 14, 2026 – FSW President Dr. Jeff Allbritten is celebrating a major academic achievement after Florida SouthWestern State College's Criminal Justice Technology program earned Exemplary Program status from Quality Matters, a global organization focused on quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. “This national recognition reflects our commitment to providing exceptional academic and workforce opportunities that transform the lives of our students,” said Allbritten. “In a workforce-oriented field such as criminal justice, quality online learning must be clear, consistent, accessible and career-relevant. The Quality Matters Exemplary Program designation affirms the strength and quality of FSW’s online offerings and our dedication to preparing students for meaningful careers in law enforcement and related fields.” FSW earned this designation by achieving QM Program Certification in all four areas of QM’s online program framework: Online Program Design, Online Teaching Support, Online Learner Support and Online Learner Success. Together, these certifications showcase the institution’s dedication to quality in the most critical elements of online learning. “Quality Matters Exemplary Program status represents the highest level of recognition in online education,” said Brian O’Reilly, FSW Criminal Justice professor. “We are proud to have earned this designation for our Criminal Justice Technology associate in science degree. It’s a milestone that reflects the hard work of our faculty and online course developers. This achievement also demonstrates FSW’s ongoing commitment to delivering a high-quality online learning experience for our students.” To prepare for certification, faculty and staff engaged in a multi-year quality improvement process. O’Reilly first completed FSW’s Online Teaching Certification course, followed by intensive internal training focused on course design aligned with QM Standards. He then partnered with instructional designers to redesign all 10 Criminal Justice courses, ensuring each course met quality expectations and successfully completed both Internal and Official QM Course Reviews. “This is a proud moment for FSW and a big win for our online students and faculty,” said Dr. Rozalind Jester, FSW Assistant Vice President of Strategic Innovation and Online Learning. “Quality Matters is the nationally recognized benchmark for online course quality. For anyone considering FSW Online, this recognition offers added confidence that our online programs are designed with quality, support and student success at the center.” The recognition signals that FSW’s Criminal Justice Technology program is designed to provide a structured, supportive and outcomes-focused online learning experience. For faculty, the process offers shared design expectations, ongoing instructional design support and a stronger foundation for effective online teaching.