Best Practices in Learning Center

Management

NCLCA InstituteJuly 2010

Dr. Lisa D’Adamo–WeinsteinDirector, Academic SupportSUNY Empire State College, Northeast Center

Dr. Lisa D'Adamo-WeinsteinDirector, Academic SupportSUNY Empire State College, Northeast Center21 British American Blvd. Latham, NY 12110

518-783-6203 ext 5939 lisa@docdw.comLisa.D’Adamo-Weinstein@esc.edu

Best practices in learning center management are difficult to define. Learning centers are multifaceted and complex, varying according to student demographics, institutional structures, facilities, funding, programs/services, staff expertise/size, and a myriad of other factors. This presentation will introduce participants to some models of best practices in order to spark conversation, promote reflection, provide insight, and point participants to resources to be explored within their own institutional contexts.

http://nclcainstitute2010.pbworks.com

MISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

PROGRAMS &

SERVICESSTAFFING &

RESOURCES

ASS

ESSM

ENT

&

EVA

LUAT

ION

Institutional Support

&Integration

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

TRIO/EOP

Programs serving unique student populations such as – Latino/Hispanic, African-American, American Indian,

Southeast Asian, Student-Athletes, International Students, Returning Adult Students, etc.

Information Literacy

Specialized Schools & CollegesNursing, Business, Education, etc.

Accessibility/Disability Services

ESL

Math

WritingReading

“The particular characteristics and needs of each individual institution drive the organization of programs, the format of service delivery, the

overall management and operation of the program and the methods of program

evaluation.”- Casazza & Silverman (1996): p. 71

1st Year Programs

General Study Skills

Content Area Tutoring

Developmental Education

Pre-College Programs

Critical Thinking

Academic Reinstatement

Your Students: Defining Who, What, & How• Who are the students you serve in your LC?

• What kinds of resources, programs, & services do they use?

• How do you interact with them (F-2-F, Online, Paper, E-mail, etc.)?

Your “Clients”: Refining Who, What, & How• Are there other students (staff, faculty, etc) you could serve in

your LC?

• What other kinds of resources, programs, & services do you wish you could offer?

• How might you expand how you interact with students(F-2-F,

Online, Paper, E-mail, etc.)?

MISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

“Successful programs begin with a well-defined mission statement and a set of program goals addressing specific areas”…

“The mission statement of a learning assistance program should fit with the institutional mission so that it serves to promote and advance the purpose of the larger organization”…

“The goals of a learning assistance program are a natural outgrowth of the mission statement.”

Source: Casazza & Silverman (1996): pp.7-73

Activity: Mission & Goals• Do you have a mission statement for your learning

center? If so, is it tied closely to your institutional mission? When is the last time you reviewed/renewed it?

• If you don’t have one, what are some ideas, elements, etc. that you would want to include?

MISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

Budget,Staffing,

Professional Development

LC ReputationOn & Off Campus

Faculty

Administrators

Support Staff

Students

Support from Upper Administration Quality of Facilities

Space

Location

Technology

AccessInstitutional

Support&

Integration

Integration with Key Campus Functions

Orientation

Student Services& Advising

DepartmentsFaculty

Centers for Teaching & Learning

Library

Computing Services

Student Housing

AthleticsOther Special Student Populations

SWOT: Institutional Support & IntegrationSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

MISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

PROGRAMS &

SERVICES

Courses

Workshops

Study Groups

Supplemental Instruction

Tutoring

Group Services

Individualized Services

Academic Counseling/Coaching

Tutoring

Mentoring

Resources &Advertising

Hardcopy

Electronic

Labs/Libraries

Awards/Recognition

Delivery Models

Onsite

Online

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Activity: TYPES of SERVICES •What types do you offer?

•What would you like to offer?

SWOT: Programs & Services - ExistingSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

SWOT: Programs & Services - DesiredSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Mission & Goals

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

PROGRAMS & SERVICESSTAFFING

& RESOURCES

Training

Interviewing &Hiring

Staff/FacultyDevelopment

Networking

BudgetingInternal & External Grants

Professional Presentations/Publications

Awards/Professional Recognition Recruiting

SWOT: Staffing & Resources - ExistingSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

SWOT: Staffing & Resources - DesiredSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTLearning Center Leadership Certification - http://www.nclca.org/certification.htm

NCLCA Institute – http://www.nclca.org/nclcains.htm

Professional Organizations & Conferences CRLA, NCLCA, NADE, ATP, etc. - http://www.lsche.net/calendar.htm

Winter Institute - http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/winter_institute/index.php

Kellogg - http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/kellogg.htm

TIDE - http://www.ci.txstate.edu/TIDE/TIDEhome.htm

TUTOR PROGRAM/TUTOR/TUTOR TRAINER CERTIFICATION

Association for the Tutoring Professionhttp://www.jsu.edu/depart/edprof/atp/cert.htm

College Reading & Learning AssociationTUTOR - http://www.crla.net/tutorcert.htmMENTOR - http://www.crla.net/mentorcert.htm

Professional Development & Training

MISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ NEEDS

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

STAFFING &

RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT&

EVALUATION

Qualitative& Quantitative

Summative& Formative

Persistence/Graduation Rates

Annual/QuarterlyReports

InstitutionalResearch

NADE Self-Evaluation Guides

Cassazza & Silverman

Faculty/Staff Performance

Impact/Effectiveness

Demographic/Use Statistics

Case Studies Benchmarking

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Program Design

Outcomes

Existing Research

FocusGroups

Course End Surveys

Activity: Assessment & Evaluation• Do you have assessment and evaluation

plans/practices for your learning center? If so, where does that data go? How is it used & by whom?

• If you don’t engage in assessment and evaluation, what are some ideas, elements, etc. that you would want to begin to assess/evaluate? To whom/for whom do you think this would be useful?

References & Additional ResourcesOverview Reference Book

Casazza, M. E. & Silverman, S. (1996). Learning Assistance and Developmental Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Professional Associations & Professional Development ResourcesNational College Learning Center Association (NCLCA)

http://www.nclca.orghttp://www.nclca.org/certification.htm (Learning Center Leadership Certification)

Learning Support Centers in Higher Education (LSCHE)http://www.lsche.net http://www.lsche.net/resources/articles.htm (Bibliography of Articles, Books &

Presentations)http://www.lsche.net/resources/lsc_mngmnt/leadershipbib.htm (Bibliography of LSC

Management)

LRNASST Listservhttp://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html

Council of Learning Assistance and Developmental Education Associations (CLADEA) http://www.cladea.net/

Association for the Tutoring Profession (ATP)http://www.jsu.edu/depart/edprof/atp/

College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA)http://www.crla.net

National Association for Developmental Education (NADE)http://www.nade.net/

National Center for Developmental Education (NCDE)http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/

• Websites – Evaluation, Assessment, Standards, Awards & Recognitions▫ American Association for Higher Education – Online Assessment Resources

http://www.aahe.org/assessment/assess_links.htm http://www.aahe.org/assessment/principl.htm

▫ Western Michigan University's Evaluation Center http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists/

▫ National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA) – Awards http://www.nclca.org/grantsawards.htm

▫ Learning Support Centers in Higher Education (LSCHE) Awards & Recognitions Link

http://www.lsche.net/resources/lc_awards.htm

▫ CAS Standards for Learning Assistance http://www.nade.net/documents/Articles/CAS.Standards.pdf

▫ Policy Center on the First Year of College – Institutions of Excellence - Benchmarkshttp://www.brevard.edu/fyc/instofexcellence/data.htm

References & Additional Resources continued…