Benchmarking Learning from Others ATP On-line Workshop Darla McCann Anoka-Ramsey Community College

“ Accountability for effectiveness and efficiency is becoming increasingly more important to higher education especially for academic support programs. Using benchmarking and following best practices can make a difference in achieving this accountability.” Frank L. Christ

“…benchmarking is the process of identifying, understanding, and adapting outstanding practices and processes from organizations anywhere in the world to help your organization improve its performance” American Productivity & Quality Center,1998

Benchmarking Questions How are we doing? Where are we now? Where do we want to be? Are we collecting the right information? How do we compare with others? Are we using the best practices or most promising practices in our field?

Benchmarking Options Traditional site visit Video conferencing Hire a consultant Consult research Telephone interviews Surf the web discussion groups Consult with an expert

“ Best practices are defined as elements and activities that the institution perceives as congruent with its mission and the concomitant mission of its academic support center aka learning support center or of any center program or service.” Christ, 2005

“…best practices would include not only general guidelines but also specific practical suggestions for designing the best possible instructional programs and instructional components…. Boylan, 2002

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has: 1.a mission congruent with its division and institutional mission 2. the support of central administration 3. an adequate budget to support its mission, goals, and objectives

Sample Mission Statement The mission of the Student Academic Support Center is to provide programs that meet the specific academic support needs of our diverse student population; that encourage scholastic persistence; that instill a heightened sense of responsibility and academic confidence, and that develop life-long learning skills. Anoka Ramsey Community College

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has: 4.developed and follows a systematic plan based on feedback and program monitoring 5. a Three or Five Year Plan that is shared with the administration 6. an Advisory Board

Sample Evaluation Plan Program GoalMethod of Evaluation Data CollectedFrequency 1. To provide tutorial services that facilitate the academic success of students. 1a. Institutional Research Review of compiled college-wide data 1a. Percent of students passing classes in “tutee category” versus all students. Percent of students retained from “tutee category” compared to all students. Biannual 1b. Review of tutoring data 1b. Count and description of students receiving tutoring services Annual 1c. Student Survey (questionnaires, interviews, case studies, focus groups) 1c. Student opinions regarding satisfaction with tutorial services. Semiannual 1d. NADE Self Evaluation Guides completed by a group of faculty, staff and administration. 1d. Opinion data related to organization and administration program components, and instructional practices scored on a rating scale. Biannual

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has: 7.an adequate professional staff to support its mission 8. an adequate clerical staff to support its mission 9. volunteers to support its mission

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has: 10. a centrally located facility with adequate space for its programs and services 11. adequate equipment and furnishings to implement its programs and services 12. learning materials for student use that allows for learning style choices

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center is: 13. centrally located and is accessible at convenient times 14. visible through campus signage 15. listed or described in institutional publications such as its catalog, web site, and recruitment literature.

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has: 16. a virtual presence through its web 17. services for the total campus community: students, faculty, administration, staff, and alumni 18. orientations to the center’s program and services, faculty invited course presentations and/or workshops, student referrals and feedback

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center partners with: 19. academic departments that have high risk courses to develop and manage Supplemental Instruction 20. CRLA for an accredited tutorial training program 21. ATP for certified tutors ATP for certified tutor trainers

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center is: 22. involved in the institutional student orientation program 23. involved in the institutional new faculty orientation program 24. involved in supporting the learning needs of online students

Best & Promising Practices Christ, 2005 A Learning Center partners: 25. or offers online tutoring with academic departments 26. with the campus bookstore to display learning and study skills materials used in the center’s programs and services

Best & Promising Practices A Learning Center has: 27. program descriptive bookmarks that it disseminates to faculty, students, and staff Christ, 2005

Best & Promising Practices A Learning Center has: Christ, a chief administrator with recognized status as a program coordinator 29. staff recognized by administration and faculty for its academic publications, research, consulting, and leadership

Best & Promising Practices 30. staff represented on relevant campus committees and task forces such as retention, distance education, faculty development 31. received campus, district, and/or national recognition Christ, 2005 A Learning Center has:

Presentation Links Slide 3: Slide 5 & 15: Slide 16: ng.cfmwww.anokaramsey.edu/studentservices/tutori ng.cfm.

Discussion Board Please go to the Discussion Board and respond to the prompt you will find for this module. Thank you!