From Compliance Gap to Quality Tool Using AI to Build an RSI Review Rubric at Clarkson University

Presenters: Rachel Dellis & Sherry Birdwell
Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) is a federal requirement for distance education — and a compliance risk many institutions don't surface until an accreditation review forces the issue. At Clarkson University, the Teaching and Learning Corner (TLC) took a proactive approach: developing a custom rubric-based review tool with the help of Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant), then using it to audit 19 summer online courses ahead of the 2026 term. This session walks through the full arc of the project — from identifying the compliance gap, to using AI to accelerate rubric development grounded in 34 CFR § 600.2 and aligned to Quality Matters Higher Education Rubric standards, to conducting the internal review, to translating findings into faculty guidance and institutional recommendations. Of the 19 courses reviewed, only 2 met RSI standards — a finding that shaped a multi-pronged response including published instructor guidance, professional development offerings, and a proposed condition of contract for online teaching. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how AI tools can support — not replace — the instructional designer's judgment in building quality assurance instruments, and practical strategies for turning review findings into faculty-facing action.