Surry Community College - Distance Education

The goal of the SCC Learning Initiative is to foster the development of a learning-centered community college. Three project objectives and five management objectives provide the framework for all project activities, timelines, evaluation, and dissemination efforts directed at meeting the overall project goal.

Project Objectives
Management Objectives

Project Objectives

The project objectives were adapted from the League for Innovation’s Learning College Project and establish a comprehensive plan for creating a more learning-centered college.

OBJECTIVE 1: Improve Student Engagement Through Critical Thinking

The College will use CCSSE survey results, faculty input, and literature to develop and implement strategies for improving learning. Professional development programs that prepare all staff and faculty to become more effective facilitators of learning will be identified and planned. Critical thinking will be the key ingredient in improving student engagement across all disciplines and programs.

Expected Outcomes for Objective 1

The College will assess present division-level activities that foster a culture of student learning through challenging/meaningful academic tasks.
The College will provide appropriate incentives and training opportunities that encourage and facilitate planning and implementation of student engagement projects by faculty and staff.
The College will create special staff development programs required of all new staff members to introduce them to key concepts associated with learning-centered education and to assist them in becoming more effective facilitators
of learning.
The College will create staff development programs for faculty and support staff to assist them in their roles as learning facilitators.

OBJECTIVE 2: Assess Learning Outcomes

The College will agree on learning outcomes relevant for all degree programs, on strategies to improve learning outcomes, on assessment processes to measure the acquisition of learning outcomes, and on means for documenting achievement of outcomes.

Expected Outcomes for Objective 2

The College will conduct thorough assessments of current programs to determine 1.) the extent to which learning outcomes are currently in use and 2.) the effectiveness of such programs.
The College will design a framework for learning outcomes for the institution.
The College will agree on a variety of appropriate assessment processes the faculty can use to measure learning achieved.
The College will apply an outcomes-based process for general education outcomes.
The College will identify means for explaining SCC’s education objectives to entering students.

OBJECTIVE 3: Reform Organizational Culture

The College will cultivate an organizational culture in which policies, programs, practices, and personnel support learning as the major priority.

Expected Outcomes for Objective 3

The College will conduct a thorough assessment of its organizational culture and determine features that support or hinder the move toward becoming a more learning-centered institution.
College leaders, both academic and administrative, will symbolically and substantively demonstrate support of learning-centered initiatives.
The College will revise academic policies (e.g., late registration, admission deadlines, attendance, probation, and suspension) to reflect priorities placed on learning.
The College will create decision-making structures to ensure involvement of all key stakeholders.
The College will create plans and implement practices to involve all appropriate stakeholders in facilitating learning.
The College will revise the language in all appropriate documents (e.g., mission statements, program descriptions, job descriptions) to reflect the new emphasis on learning.

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Management Objectives

OBJECTIVE A: Establish College Teams

The College will support the formation of teams to lead the implementation of activities focused on making SCC more learning centered.

OBJECTIVE B: Enhance Understanding of Learning-Centered Education

The College will collect and share a common body of knowledge from Vanguard and Champion colleges and research-based literature on best practices regarding key issues and concepts related to student engagement and learning-centered education and practices.

OBJECTIVE C: Monitor Progress

The College will monitor the progress toward becoming more learning centered.

OBJECTIVE D: Disseminate Project Outcomes and Activities

The College will disseminate project activities, progress, and results as well as best practices related to learning-centered education among partners and community colleges at-large. Two key dissemination forums will be established: a Web site and a project newsletter. The College will also distribute information through established forums including regional, national, and international conferences; professional publications; and other media.

OBJECTIVE E: Promote Continuity of Learning-Centered Activities

The College will work closely with other colleges that have developed identifiable learning college projects and with colleges that have utilized CCSSE results for impacting student learning.

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