Committee
for Teaching & Learning (CTL)
Santa Barbara City College
Minutes of October 23, 2006
3:00-4:30 p.m.
CAPITAL
CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES: LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER (LRC)/LIBRARY RENOVATION
The Committee on Teaching and Learning (CTL) unanimously supports moving the
LRC/Library Renovation up in the SBCC Long Range Capital Construction Priorities
list.
Rationale:
1. Campus-wide Service Delivery
The LRC provides primary campus access to students from every discipline seeking
academic support services. The Writing Center, one component of the LRC, serves
students in writing, reading, problem solving, research, and other foundational
learning skills. The Tutorial Center supplements and enhances classroom instruction
by helping students develop study strategies. Further, the LRC is a principal
provider of skills necessary for the realization of Student Learning Outcomes
and other cross-campus initiatives such as Writing across the Curriculum (WAC),
the Gateway project, and other efforts that have been selected by a broad range
of faculty working on the Partnership for Student Success Initiatives.
2. Meeting Increased Demand
As we shift from growth to retention as a model for funding, student success
becomes both a fiscal and a pedagogical issue. Funding is tied to student success,
driven by persistence and retention (productive grades). The LRC plays a key
role in this effort by preparing students to receive the instruction that teachers
give. As Partnership for Success programs have embarked on addressing the serious
concerns about under-prepared students, the LRC and Library are experiencing
a dramatic increase in use.
The new Director has brought many more students and faculty to the Library due
to a vigorous outreach effort. Faculty could be additionally served by the creation
of new study areas in the Library.
The demand for LRC/Library services exceeds our ability to serve students who
seek help; therefore, more space is required. Students and faculty need to be
able to use the up-to-date technology in new computer labs; in order to be effective
as a learning tool, technology requires human support from faculty, tutors and
staff.
3. Centralization of Service
We recognize the fiscal and pedagogical virtues of centralizing resources. Centralized
resources allow for flexible use based upon on-demand need. Centralization also
reduces staff costs and allows for close record keeping regarding use, which
is crucial for state remuneration.
This recommendation was reported to Kelly Lake, A.S. Liaison, and directly to Geoff Thielst, Chair of the Planning and Resources Committee, who included it in his report to A.S.
Next meeting: Monday, Oct. 23, 3:00 p.m, in SS240E.