Learning Center Leaders Toolkit Alan Craig RetiredDirector Learning

Learning Center Leader’s Toolkit Alan Craig Retired—Director, Learning & Tutoring Centers Georgia Perimeter College Adjunct Mathematics Instructor Georgia State University – Perimeter College ACraig 5@gsu. edu http: //sites. gpc. edu/acraig/ NCLCA Institute June 27 -29, 2016

Monday, June 27 10 – 10: 15 a. m. 2

Overview—Programs, Services, Framework, Standards, Best Practices Monday, June 27, 10 – 10: 15 a. m. • CAS Learning Assistance Program Standard • http: //www. nclca. org • Frank Christ Best/Promising Practices • http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=1216 • NCLCA Learning Centers of Excellence • http: //www. nclca. org/LCs_of_excellence 3

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Frank Christ Best/Promising Practices http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=1216 General Clientele Programs & Services Technology Partnering Program Evaluation Publicity and Public Relations Staff Training Certification and Recognition Frank Christ 4

Monday, June 27 10: 40 – 11: 30 a. m. 5

Learning Center Leader’s Toolkit: Part 1 Monday, June 27, 10: 40 – 11: 30 a. m. • • What is a Learning Center? Annual Report Advisory Board Resources for • Job Descriptions • Tutor Training Frank Christ presenting NCLCA Lifetime Achievement Award to Martha Maxwell 6

Learning & Tutoring Center (Top Floor of Library) 7

LTC Entrance 8

What is a Learning Center? NCLCA defines a learning center at institutions of higher education as interactive academic spaces which exist to reinforce and extend student learning in physical and/or virtual environments. A variety of comprehensive support services and programs are offered in these environments to enhance student academic success, retention, and graduation through applying the best practices of student learning theory and addressing studentlearning needs from multiple pedagogical perspectives. Staffed by professionals, paraprofessionals, faculty, and/or trained student educators, learning centers are designed to reinforce the holistic academic growth of students by fostering critical thinking, metacognitive development, and academic and personal success. The learning center is a place where students and students’ needs come first. 9

What Are Some Key Services, Programs, and Functions of a Learning Center? 1. Academic testing/evaluation 2. Academic Coaching/learning skills/study strategies 3. Tutoring (drop in and/or appointment) 4. Peer Cooperative Learning (SI, SLA, PLTL) 5. Computer-assisted instruction (MML) 6. Developmental labs/courses 7. Faculty services 8. Publicity/public relations Martha Maxwell 9. Instructional materials-print, audio, video, electronic 10

What are the Services, Programs, and Functions of a Learning Center? 10. Staff/tutor training and development 11. Computer lab 12. Referral to other campus programs/services 13. Partner with advising and counseling 14. Academic recovery 15. Disability services 16. Campus ombudsperson 17. Program evaluation What services does your center provide? 11

More on this: NCLCA Surveys • Toms, M. , & Reedy, D. (Ed. ). (2016). National College Learning Center Association 2014 Survey Report. The Learning Assistance Review, 21(1), 9 -18. • Truschel, J. , & Reedy, D. L. (2009). National survey: What is a learning center in the 21 st century? The Learning Assistance Review, 14(1), 9– 22. • https: //nclca. org/tlar_issues 12

LC Development and Improvement Areas Advisory Board Funding Space and Furnishings Professional Development Standards/ Best Practices Goals, Objectives, SLOs Policies Job Descriptions Tutor Hiring/Trainin g Strategic Plan Startup Decisions Comprehensive Support Services Evaluation Marketing/PR Annual Report 13

Some LC Startup Questions/Decisions • • • What do we call it? How do we fund it and staff it? What policies do we need? What services do we offer to start? Should we offer tutoring by appointment, drop in, both? Group tutoring? • How do we interview/test/recruit tutors? • How do we train tutors? • What furnishings and equipment? 14

Strategic Planning • Based on vision/mission • Develop goals/objectives, student learning outcomes along with one or more measures of each • Plan for 2 – 5 years ahead • Updated annually at a meeting focused specifically on strategic planning 15

Strategic Plan Resources • Hanover Research: Academic Tutoring in Comprehensive Universities – http: //www. mercedregionalgateway. org/resources/Academi c%20 Tutoring%20 in%20 Comprehensive%20 Universities. p df • Grand Valley State University SASC – https: //www. gvsu. edu/cms 3/assets/C 714 A 380 -E 651 -108 F 5 F 88 CA 83 BA 764404/sasc_strategicplan 2010_2015. pdf • Great Basin College ASC Strategic Plan Outline – http: //www. gbcnv. edu/planning/outline_public. cgi? Acade mic_Success_Center+Jones+Shirley 16

Strategic Plan Resources • KSU University College Strategic Plan (see SWOT) – http: //www. kennesaw. edu/president/strategic_plan. pdf. Horry • Georgetown Student Success & Tutoring Center strategic plan – https: //www. hgtc. edu/documents/currentstudents/sstc. pdf • UVU Writing Center – https: //www. uvu. edu/writingcenter/about/strategicdocuments/strategic-plan. html • CSU Stanislaus How the Tutoring Center fits in overall strategic plan – https: //www. csustan. edu/sites/default/files/Student. Affairs. Assessment/d ocuments/Assessment. Structure/Tutoring. pdf 17

Policies • Policies for students, staff, tutors • • • No Show/Cancellation Cell phone use Food/drink Who can be tutored Who can be a tutor Plagiarism/Cheating Dress code/Hygiene Tutor idle time Materials check out … 18

Policy Resources • University of North Carolina Wilmington University Learning Center Tutor Handbook – http: //uncw. edu/ulc/about/tutorhandbook. html • Madisonville Community College The Learning Space Policies – https: //madisonville. kctcs. edu/en/Academics/The_Learning_Spa ce/The_Learning_Space_Policies. aspx • Penn State Lehigh Valley Learning Center Policies – http: //www. lv. psu. edu/Student. Services/LRC/26940. htm • U of New Mexico Center for Academic Program Support is happy to share ideas/policies/practices with other LCs – http: //caps. unm. edu/mycaps/ 19

Advisory Board • • • [handout] Provide advice and counsel Promoting the learning center Prioritize initiatives, budget Review learning center status Meet from 2 – 4 times per academic year Members: important or influential department chairs, faculty, administrators, staff, advisors, students 20

Advisory Board Resources • Handout on LC Advisory Boards (Revised version of Winter 2005 NCLCA Newsletter article by Alan Craig) • Lowenstein, S. (1993). Using advisory boards for learning assistance programs. In P. A. Malinowski (Ed. ), Perspectives on practice in developmental education (pp. 93 -99). Canandaigua, NY: New York College Learning Skills Association. • Los Angeles Mission College Learning Center Advisory Board http: //www. lamission. edu/learningcenter/advisory. aspx 21

Annual Report • Report annually on how your center is doing, the good and not-so-good, initiatives/projects, what the center needs to be more effective, … • Quantitative data as well as qualitative information. • Outcome data—demonstrating LC effectiveness and impact (retention, graduation, probation) not just usage, satisfaction, and demographic data • Executive Summary—one paragraph to one page 22

Resources for Annual Reports • Texas A&M Academic Success Center: – http: //successcenter. tamu. edu/Academic. Success. Center/files/d 1 f 29 fa 7 -56 b 6 -486 c-9 dec-cc 29 c 25 f 8 ce 7. pdf • Clemson Academic Success Center: – http: //www. clemson. edu/asc/documents/12_13_Annual_Report. pdf • Ball State University – http: //cms. bsu. edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/universitycollege/l earningcenter/about • Mira. Costa College: – http: //www. miracosta. edu/studentservices/tutoring/annualreports. ht ml • See more on web links handout 23

Suggested Tutor Training Material/Sites • CRLA Tutor Training Handbooks • NC State Videos/Put the Pencil Down (M. Toms) – http: //tutorial. dasa. ncsu. edu/tutor-training-products/ • City College of San Francisco LAC – http: //www. ccsf. edu/Services/LAC/Lern 10_Online_Tutor_Training/ • University of Richmond Training for Tough Tutorials – http: //writing 2. richmond. edu/training/tough/index. html • A Training Guide for College Tutors and Peer Educators (S. Lipsky) 24

Tutor Training Resources • Carleton College Prefect Handbook (SI) – http: //apps. carleton. edu/campus/asc/prefect/trainingguide/ • UH Hawaii Community College, The Learning Center Tutor Handbook – http: //hawaii. edu/node/461 • The Master Tutor/Cambridge Stratford Institute – http: //www. cambridgestratford. com/tutoring. html 25

Resources for Job Descriptions • LSCHE list of postings from LRNASST – http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=7353 – http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=8056 (archive) 26

Monday, June 27 2: 15 – 3: 15 p. m. 27

Learning Center Leader’s Toolkit: Part 2 Monday, June 27, 2: 15 – 3: 15 p. m. • Resources for • • Professional Development Program Development Funding Design Bill White 28

Math Lab 29

But Monitor Carefully! 30

Key Resources • LSCHE, LRNASST • NCLCA, ATP, CRLA, UMKC & Local/Regional Associations • Learning Strategies Websites • Tutor Training Resources • Supplemental Instruction • Vendors/Products 31

• A multitude of resources for the learning center director – http: //www. lsche. net – Center names, mission statements, floor plans – References—articles, books, dissertations – Website excellence award – Bibliographies – Calendar of events – Position descriptions – Much, Much More! 32

Two Key Resources: • Best/Promising Practices [handout] – http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=271 • Starting a Learning Assistance Center – http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=523 33

LRNASST • An active Listserv that supports those interested in learning centers, learning assistance, and developmental education • Ask Questions • Searchives • Join at – http: //www. lists. ufl. edu/archives/lrnasst-l. html – or just google LRNASST 34

NCLCA • • • Devoted exclusively to learning centers Learning Center Leadership Certification Learning Center of Excellence The Learning Assistance Review (full archive online) Newsletter Awards and Grants NCLCA Institute Learning Center Bibliography WOW - Webinars 35

Staff Pictures at Entrance 36

Other Organizations 37

CRLA ITTPC, CAS Standard, & ATP Ø CLADEA (Council of Learning Assistance and Developmental Education Associations) www. cladea. net Ø CRLA International Tutor Training Program Certification www. crla. net Ø CAS Standard on Learning Assistance Programs (available on NCLCA home page) Ø ATP Tutor Trainer Certifications www. myatp. org 38

Supplemental Instruction • SI is an academic assistance program that utilizes peer-assisted study sessions. Proven effective. – SI sessions are regularly-scheduled, informal review sessions in which students compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. Students learn how to integrate course content and study skills while working together. • University of Missouri—Kansas City – http: //www. umkc. edu/asm/si/index. shtml 39

A Few Learning Strategies Websites • • • Virginia Tech http: //www. ucc. vt. edu/stdysk/stdyhlp. html U of Central Florida http: //sarconline. sdes. ucf. edu/? page_id=344 Study Guides & Strategies http: //www. studygs. net Cal Poly http: //sas. calpoly. edu/asc/ssl. html Texas Tech: Study Tips on Pinterest – http: //www. pinterest. com/ttuadvising/study-tips/ 40

Learning Center Management Products Tutor. Trac (& Accudemia/Accu. Lite) 41

Our Group Tutoring Room 42

A Sample of Online Tutoring Vendors 43

Poster Sources • • • http: //www. allposters. com http: //www. mathematicianspictures. com http: //www. alastore. ala. org/ http: //www. Teacherstorehouse. com http: //www. Edugraphics. net http: //www. posterrevolution. com/subjects/in dex. cfm? s=Education 44

Our LTC Hallway 45

Writing Center & Chemistry Center 46

Celebrate! • National Tutoring Week (Oct 3 -7) – Ideas: http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=4505 • Tutor Certification—Pinning Ceremony • Pot Luck Luncheons/Picnics 47

Jaggy 48

Potluck Luncheon 49

Status Reporting • Sections – Issues/Concerns/FYI – Accomplishments – Plans/In Progress • ONE page • Three items per section 50

Space & Furnishings Resources • LSCHE: http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=707 51

Space & Furnishings Resources • White, Jr. , W. G. (2004). The physical environment of learning support centers. The Learning Assistance Review, 9(1), 17 -27. – http: //www. nclca. org/tlar_issues • This article reports the findings of a survey of learning support centers (LSC) regarding their facilities, furnishings, and equipment. Directors of 273 LSCs in the United States and Canada were surveyed with a response rate of 32%. The study addresses a number of LSC characteristics: location, prominence of location, exterior and interior qualities, construction and renovation history, furnishings and equipment inventories and selection, and educational adequacy. Findings reveal a number of positive changes in the physical environments of LSCs during the past two decades, but may also reveal some differences between centralized and organizationally or physically decentralized LSCs. 52

Space & Furnishings Resources • Clemson Universal Design presentation – http: //www. clemson. edu/asc/documents/UDPPT_8_6_09. pdf 53

Resources/Ideas for Funding • Understand the budget process, budget cycle, chart of accounts, … • Barr, M. J. , & Mc. Clellan, G. S. (2011). Budgets and financial management in higher education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 54

19 199 9 99 -2 0 20 00 00 20 200 1 01 -2 0 20 02 02 20 200 3 03 -2 0 20 04 04 20 200 5 05 -2 0 20 06 06 20 200 7 07 -2 0 20 08 08 -2 00 9 19 98 Visits Year-by-Year Dunwoody LTC Sign-in Count 60, 000 50, 000 40, 000 30, 000 20, 000 10, 000 Summer Spring Fall 0 55

Resources/Ideas for Funding • Appeal to public on your website – LSU Center for Academic Success • http: //students. lsu. edu/academicsuccess/about – Dunwoody College of Technology Elftmann Student Success Center • http: //www. dunwoody. edu/studentsuccess/support/ – U of Pennsylvania: 56

Resources/Ideas for Funding • • Fines for missed tutoring appointments Donations by faculty and staff Your institution’s surplus equipment warehouse Funding for special activities by student life or student government • Funding through special purpose funds within the college (e. g. , student tech fee committee one time purchase of TI calculator emulator licenses for all tutoring center computers) • Grants—public and private • Grants/Awards from professional organizations 57

Wednesday, June 29 9 – 9: 30 a. m. 58

Award-Winning Websites and Social Media Wednesday, June 29, 9 – 9: 30 a. m. 59

NCLCA/LSCHE Website Award • Criteria • Recent Winners • Over 1500 LC Websites on LSCHE 60

NCLCA/LSCHE Website Award • Criteria – http: //www. lsche. net/? page_id=5875 61

NCLCA/LSCHE Website Award • 2015 Elftmann Student Success Center – Dunwoody College of Technology – http: //www. dunwoody. edu/studentsuccess/ • 2014 Learning Assistance Center – University of Cincinnati – http: //www. uc. edu/aess/lac. html • 2013 The Academic Success Center – Clemson University – http: //www. clemson. edu/asc/ 62

Facebook Fun! https: //www. facebook. com/GPCLTC 63

Instagram http: //instagram. com/ascatrit 64

Twitter https: //twitter. com/gpcltc 65

Blogs Academic Success Center Triton College http: //asctriton. blogspot. com/? view=mosaic 66

Pinterest Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Tutoring Center http: //www. pinterest. com/neotc/ 67

Next Steps? List 3 ideas you want to implement and the actions and support required to achieve them. http: //sites. gpc. edu/acraig/ 68