Quality measurement tools such as the Rubric for Online Instruction (ROI) and Quality Matters (QM) have developed guidelines by providing research based educational criteria for planning, creating, and implementing quality online education courses. This dissertation reviews QM program standards and identifies the primary characteristics of excellence in distance education from the faculty members' perspective as well as opinions and attitudes. The research questions for this study were: 1) Which Quality Matters Rubric standards do instructors feel are the most appropriate for measuring course quality?, 2) Which Quality Matters Rubric standards do instructors feel are the least appropriate for measuring course quality?, and 3) Do participants' levels of experience with online teaching affect their reactions to the Quality Matters instrument? The setting for this study was a large public research university in the United States Mid-west. A list of 175 potential subject matter experts was selected of which 27 (N = 27) completed Round 1 in its entirety, 15 agreed to take part in Rounds 2 and 3 of the Delphi study. The study consisted of 43 Items, rated on a Likert-like scale, and provided for participant comments. The results showed survey participants agree with the QM Rubric but determined that a customizable instrument would better serve the university. Participants determined that 40% of the 43 Items were the most appropriate for measuring course quality; that 12% were least appropriate; and the remaining 48% was determined to be acceptable "as-is". A t-test for Equality of Means and an ANOVA determined that participants level of online teaching experience influenced the rating of 2 (5%) of the 43 Items surveyed. Ratings of Items changed over the course of the study showing the adaptation of opinion by survey participants over time. It also began to show the discrepancy between the expected outcome by the quality measurement program and the opinions of what instructors in the field consider to be important to an online education course. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]