1. NCLCA Guidebook Evaluation: Title: Unleash the Power of an Advisory Board for Your Learning Center Presenters: Alan Craig Elaine Richardson Jackie Harris
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2. Unleash the Power of an Advisory Board for Your Learning Center!
Alan Craig, Elaine Richardson, Jackie Harris

3. Learning Center Advisory Boards: Results of an Online Exploratory Survey
This session is based on an online study conducted Fall 2017 (n = 230)
Craig, A., Richardson, E., & Harris, J. (2018). Learning center advisory boards: Results of an online exploratory survey. The Learning Assistance Review, 23(2),

4. Introduction
Leading practitioners, scholars, and professional organizations have recommended that learning centers have advisory boards
Maxwell
Christ
Arendale
CAS
NCLCA (LCE)

5. Survey Responses: Institution Size

6. Survey Responses: Institution Type

7. Survey Responses: LC Services
Program or Service
Number of LCs Reporting
Tutoring
227
Academic Skills Workshops
173
Peer Cooperative Learning Programs
132
Academic Coaching
125
Dedicated Computer Lab 75
Early Alert 71
Peer Mentoring 66
Academic Recovery 62
Student Athlete Support 59
First Year Seminar/Study Skills Course 58
Disability Services 49

8. Survey Responses: Advisory Boards by Institutional Type
Number of LCs with Advisory Boards
2-yr public 9
4-yr private 8
4-yr public 10

9. LC Advisory Boards by Institutional Type and Size
Number of LCs with Advisory Board
Type
1 – 2,000 2
4-yr private
2,001 – 5,000
7 total: 4 1
2-yr public
4-yr public
5,001 – 10,000
8 total: 3

10. LC Advisory Boards by Institutional Type and Size
Number of LCs with Advisory Board
Type
10,001 – 20,000
4 total: 2 1
2-yr public
4-yr private
4-yr public
20,001 +
6 total: 5

11. Purposes of the Advisory Board
Advise on and help prioritize LC programs and services, especially given limited resources
Advise on alignment with institutional goals
Assist with strategic planning
“Provide feedback on current services and help identify growing student needs”
“Recommend opportunities for collaboration”
“Explore avenues for improvement”
“Help the learning center [leader] think critically and creatively

12. Purposes of the Advisory Board
Serve as advocates, liaisons, ambassadors for LC
“Develop and maintain strong relationships” with departments served and other stakeholders
“Serve as a vehicle for marketing” LC services and manage the LC’s image
“Raise awareness of resources and services for students”

13. Membership/Chair Usually members are invited to join
Some members are assigned
In one case, elected by faculty/student senates
One institution had 3 boards: one for students, one for faculty, one for student development/academic support professionals
Chair is usually LC director (89%) but sometimes faculty (elected or appointed as chair)
Grad student chaired the student board
Two boards had no chair

14. Areas Represented Include
Academic departments
Academic advising
Personal counseling
Testing
Disability services
FYE programs
LC staff
Centers for teaching and learning
Athletics
Veterans’ affairs
Institutional effectiveness
Enrollment management
Departments with a similar role to the LC

15. Number of Members Ranged from 4 – 22
Did not appear to depend on type or size of institution
Most popular 9, 10, or 12 members

16. Term Limits Most (about ¾) did not have term limits for members
Many asked individual members each year if they wished to continue
Five had term limits of 1 – 3 years
Students usually served one year

17. Meeting Frequency: Monthly to Annually
Once per semester is most common (8)
Twice per semester (4)
Three times per semester (1)
Monthly (5)

18. Key Activities Times Cited
Acting as a sounding board on LC tactical/strategic planning 24
Developing and supporting advocates for promoting the LC 23
Encouraging faculty involvement in the LC 21
Providing guidance for prioritizing LC initiatives/services/budget requests 17
Reviewing LC status/data 16
Ensuring collaboration opportunities are maximized

19. Key Activities Times Cited
Providing specialized expertise to aid the LC 6
Providing student and faculty perspectives on services and marketing 1
Promoting the services of the learning commons
Encouraging faculty participation in analyzing factors relevant to persistence and developing actions to promote permanence.

20. Impact of LC Advisory Boards
“Definitely helped us shape our strategic plan into something that addresses the needs of our stakeholders.”
“Great advocates and various perspectives from across campus.”
“Fresh perspective on what areas or programs are working and what needs improving.”
“Better relationship with academic departments and faculty, improved currency in materials and resources for students.”
“Learned new marketing ideas”

21. Impact of LC Advisory Boards
“I don’t feel as though I’m making as many decisions in a vacuum.”
“It feels good to have decision-makers and campus influencers know what we do and be able to speak knowledgeably about our work to others.”
“Better connections with other campus support programs and students having a voice in the direction of the center.”
“Better services translate to better outcomes for students.”
“If the [LC] benefits, then the college benefits.”

22. Benefits of LC Advisory Board
Increased collaboration on campus
Strengthened campus partnerships
Improved relationships with academic departments and faculty
Enriched perspectives on marketing, programs and services
Enhanced voice for students in the direction of the center
Enhanced professional feedback on center mission, goals and objectives
Increased advocacy for the learning center
Increased faculty involvement

23. Why Do Many LCs Not Have Advisory Boards?
Never considered 38%
Unclear what advisory board does 14%
Advisory board under consideration 24%
Had one but disbanded 8%
Informal relationships/small size of institution or a campus committee provide sufficient interaction
Work demands/staffing/budget preclude it
Do not have political support for one

24. Advisory Board on Hold (5.2%)
Prior LC leader left, and new/interim leadership has not convened the advisory board.
The institution is reorganizing, restructuring, or implementing new policies and procedures.
It was too difficult to convene the board; lack of interest and attendance.
Staff are stretched thin often from staff and budget reductions.
The advisory board was ineffective.
The advisory board was created to establish a new learning center but put on hold or disbanded after implementation.

25. Recommendations Worksheet for Starting and Operating a Learning Center Advisory Board
Your Purpose: ___________________________________ Your goals for key activities: ________________________ Your proposed advisory board members: ______________ Your proposed board chair: _________________________ Your proposed member terms: _______________________ Your proposed meeting frequency/schedule: ____________ Final Thoughts: __________________________________

26. Discussion and Questions ?

27. NCLCA Guidebook Evaluation: Title: Unleash the Power of an Advisory Board for Your Learning Center Presenters: Alan Craig Elaine Richardson Jackie Harris
Mobile Link:
You may also visit the kiosk at the registration desk to access Guidebook
Navigate to specific session within Guidebook to evaluate.
Within session view, click “Session Evaluation Survey.”
Complete session evaluation.
Without mobile device try the web version: