The Road to Becoming a Center of Excellence

Lisa D’Adamo Weinstein

Laura Sanders

M. Elaine Richardson

NCLCA Subcommittee for Learning Centers of Excellence Project

LCE Rationale

The LCE program was developed by NCLCA to:

• Promote professional standards of excellence for learning centers

• Recognize the need for flexibility and inclusiveness in meeting the standards

• Encourage centers to develop, maintain and assess quality programs and services to enhance student learning

• Honor the history of established and unique centers• Celebrate the outstanding achievements of centers

that meet and exceed these standards

Developing the Learning Centers Of Excellence

ProgramInspired by the works of Frank Christ, Council on Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, and John Gardner, NCLCA has developed seven major categories and subsets of those categories by which centers will be evaluated.

● Christ, F. L. (2009). Best and Promising Practices for Learning Support Centers: A Handout for Workshop at NCLCA Conference in Golden, CO on October 3, 2009.

● Council on Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) website to review and purchase the standards - http://www.cas.edu/index.php/standards

● Model for the Centers of Excellence was Institutions of Excellence in the First College Year - http://www.jngi.org/institute/past-initiatives/institutions-of-excellence-in-the-first-college-year/

Seven Major Categories for Evaluation

• Programs and Services (10%)• Organizational Framework (20%)• Academic Integrity & Learning

Environment (10%)• Funding, Resources and Design (10%)• Staff and Professional Development (15%)• Promotion and Public Relations (15%)• Assessment and Evaluation (20%)

Programs and Services (10%)

• Describe how your center meets the criteria of the NCLCA Learning Center definition• Provides interactive academic spaces• Reinforces and extends student learning• Effectively uses physical and/or virtual

environments• Provides a variety of comprehensive support

services and programs• Enhances student academic success, retention, and

graduation• Aligns with best practices of student learning theory

and addressing student learning needs• Fosters critical thinking, metacognitive

development, and academic and personal success

Small Group Activity

• Make a list of the programs and services in your center and share with your group.

• How do these fit with the NCLCA definition of a Learning Center?

Organizational Framework(20%)

• MISSION STATEMENT• Mission statement is in alignment with division and

institutional mission• Regular review process for the mission statement• Mission statement is appropriate for the student

population

• LEADERSHIP• The director has the appropriate blend of professional

degrees, certifications and work experience • Other center professionals have appropriate blend of

professional degrees, certifications and work experience

• Learning center professionals are represented on campus/university-wide committees

Small Group Activity

• Discuss the mission statement for your center in your group.

• Discuss the requirements for your center director and other personnel.

Academic integrity and learning environment (10%)

• ETHICS AND POLICIES• All staff members are trained on ethical practices and

institution policies• Learning Center employees respect student privacy and

confidentiality• Scholarly integrity and academic honesty is upheld

• DIVERSITY• Center staff are sensitive to needs of diverse populations• Academic support needs of diverse student groups are

considered when planning programs• All staff members provide fair and impartial academic

support for all students and promote a harassment free environment

Small Group Activity

• Share ideas in your group about how your center staff is trained on ethical practices, institutional policies, FERPA training, etc.

• Discuss how your center addresses diversity and assures the needs of your targeted student population are being met.