1. Best Practices in Learning Center Management NCLCA Institute July 2010 Dr. Lisa D’Adamo–Weinstein Director, Academic Support SUNY Empire State College, Northeast Center

2. Dr. Lisa D'Adamo-Weinstein Director, Academic Support SUNY Empire State College, Northeast Center 21 British American Blvd. Latham, NY 12110 518-783-6203 ext 5939 lisa@docdw.com Lisa.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

3. MISSION & GOALS STUDENTS’ NEEDS PROGRAMS&SERVICES STAFFING&RESOURCES ASSESSMENT&EVALUATION InstitutionalSupport&Integration

4. 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 & Colleges Nursing, Business, Education, etc. Accessibility/Disability Services ESL Math Writing Reading “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 1 st Year Programs General Study Skills Content Area Tutoring Developmental Education Pre-College Programs Critical Thinking Academic Reinstatement

5. 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.) ?

6. 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.) ?

7. 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

8. 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?

9. MISSION & GOALS STUDENTS’ NEEDS Budget, Staffing, Professional Development LC Reputation On & Off Campus Faculty Administrators Support Staff Students Support from Upper Administration Quality of Facilities Space Location Technology Access InstitutionalSupport&Integration Integration with Key Campus Functions Orientation Student Services & Advising Departments Faculty Centers for Teaching & Learning Library Computing Services Student Housing Athletics Other Special Student Populations

10. SWOT: Institutional Support & Integration STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

11. 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

12. Activity: TYPES of SERVICES What types do you offer? What would you like to offer?

13. SWOT: Programs & Services - Existing STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

14. SWOT: Programs & Services - Desired STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

15. Mission & Goals STUDENTS’ NEEDS PROGRAMS & SERVICES STAFFING&RESOURCES Training Interviewing & Hiring Staff/Faculty Development Networking Budgeting Internal & External Grants Professional Presentations/Publications Awards/ Professional Recognition Recruiting

16. SWOT: Staffing & Resources - Existing STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

17. SWOT: Staffing & Resources - Desired STRENGTHSWEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIESTHREATS

18. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Learning Center Leadership Certification - Learning Center Leadership Certification - http://www.nclca.org/certification.htm http://www.nclca.org/certification.htm NCLCA Institute NCLCA Institute – http://www.nclca.org/nclcains.htmhttp://www.nclca.org/nclcains.htm Professional Organizations & Conferences CRLA, NCLCA, NADE, ATP, etc. - http://www.lsche.net/calendar.htmhttp://www.lsche.net/calendar.htm Winter Institute - Winter Institute - http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/winter_institute/index.php http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/winter_institute/index.php Kellogg Kellogg - http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/kellogg.htmhttp://www.ncde.appstate.edu/kellogg.htm TIDE TIDE - http://www.ci.txstate.edu/TIDE/TIDEhome.htmhttp://www.ci.txstate.edu/TIDE/TIDEhome.htm TUTOR PROGRAM/TUTOR/TUTOR TRAINER CERTIFICATION Association for the Tutoring Profession http://www.jsu.edu/depart/edprof/atp/cert.htm College Reading & Learning Association TUTOR - http://www.crla.net/tutorcert.htmhttp://www.crla.net/tutorcert.htm MENTOR - http://www.crla.net/mentorcert.htmhttp://www.crla.net/mentorcert.htm Professional Development & Training

19. MISSION & GOALS STUDENTS’ NEEDS PROGRAMS & SERVICES STAFFING & RESOURCES ASSESSMENT&EVALUATION Qualitative & Quantitative Summative & Formative Persistence/ Graduation Rates Annual/Quarterly Reports Institutional Research 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 Focus Groups Course End Surveys

20. 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?

21. References & Additional Resources Overview Reference Book Casazza, M. E. & Silverman, S. (1996). Learning Assistance and Developmental Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Professional Associations & Professional Development Resources National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA) http://www.nclca.org http://www.nclca.org/certification.htmhttp://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.htmhttp://www.lsche.net/resources/articles.htm (Bibliography of Articles, Books & Presentations) http://www.lsche.net/resources/lsc_mngmnt/leadershipbib.htmhttp://www.lsche.net/resources/lsc_mngmnt/leadershipbib.htm (Bibliography of LSC Management) LRNASST Listserv http://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/

22. 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/assess_links.htm  http://www.aahe.org/assessment/principl.htm http://www.aahe.org/assessment/principl.htm ▫Western Michigan University's Evaluation Center  http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists/ http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists/ ▫National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA) – Awards  http://www.nclca.org/grantsawards.htm http://www.nclca.org/grantsawards.htm ▫Learning Support Centers in Higher Education (LSCHE)  Awards & Recognitions Link  http://www.lsche.net/resources/lc_awards.htm http://www.lsche.net/resources/lc_awards.htm ▫CAS Standards for Learning Assistance  http://www.nade.net/documents/Articles/CAS.Standards.pdf http://www.nade.net/documents/Articles/CAS.Standards.pdf ▫Policy Center on the First Year of College – Institutions of Excellence - Benchmarks http://www.brevard.edu/fyc/instofexcellence/data.htm References & Additional Resources continued…