Strategic Plan
2007-2008
MISSION STATEMENT
Programs for Academic Support Services provides services for Texas Tech students as a supplement to classroom and lab instruction, enabling them to achieve academic success and develop lifelong learning skills.
VISION STATEMENT
Programs for Academic Support Services will provide quality services to meet all the academic achievement needs for students by:
- establishing collaborative relationships with faculty to strengthen students’ educational experience;
- increasing learning opportunities to foster an eagerness to learn and contribute toward lifelong learning for all students; and
- ensuring that all students using any area of PASS experience full quality service addressing their personal and academic needs.
VALUES STATEMENT
Programs for Academic Support Services promotes integrity in all areas of public service, respecting the rights and dignity of all who use our service.
GOALS, CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS, AND OBJECTIVES
(including Strategies and Assessments)
THE LEARNING CENTER
Goal I. To assist with student retention and academic success, primarily through an effective, user-friendly peer tutoring program
Benchmarks:
- Regular provision of tutoring in all traditional (i.e. Math and Science) areas as well as additional areas of greatest demand (e.g. Statistics and Accounting)
- Maintaining availability of Biology lectures and computer access in our Learning Lab
- Promote awareness on campus of Learning Center service
Objective 1.1: Increase usage of online and appointment-based tutoring, as well as number of contacts/contact hours for traditional group tutoring
Strategies:
- Hire distinct staff to cover online and appointment-based tutoring needs
- Monitor student usage (contacts and contact hours) of these services
Objective 1.2: Eliminate significant gaps in tutoring availability (e.g. Statistics)
Strategies:
- Evaluate subject needs through survey of student feedback
- Develop means of attracting and retaining quality tutors
Objective 1.3: Reduce technical problems encountered with lecture viewing in computer lab
Strategies:
- Enlist aid of programmer and computer tech in every instance of computer malfunction
- Have backup headphones on hand when needed
- Attempt to speed availability of lecture videos
Objective 1.4: Hire Coordinator and/or graduate staff to do advisements and outreach presentations
Strategies:
- Run table at all Orientation and University Day gatherings
- Continue to offer individual advisements when requested
- Offer PASS Information presentations in-house and to outside groups as needed
Objective 1.5: Continue with departmental publicity efforts
Strategies:
- Continue to publish and distribute academic resources guides
- Utilize TechAnnounce
- Promotional items given out at Orientations, Outreaches, etc.
Goal II. To assist with student retention and academic success by providing testing accommodations tailored to the needs of students with disabilities
Benchmarks:
- Provide all facilities and resources needed for administering tests for students with disabilities
- Maintain clear and open communication between affected parties (students, instructors, SDS office)
Objective 2.1: Make improvements to facilities as needed
Strategies:
- Install security cameras in testing rooms that have no cameras
- Designate separate areas for open-book and ordinary closed-book testing
- Provide computers specifically for testing purposes
Objective 2.2: Update and improve information on website
Strategies:
- Move the Testing Contract to an easier-to-find location
- Update references to “AccessTech” to reflect new department name.
Objective 2.3: Utilize regular e-mail communication with students & instructors
Strategies:
- Establish introductory contact with students immediately after receipt of contracts
- Devise standard letters to address common situations (no-shows, failure to send tests, etc.
Supplemental Instruction
Goal: The Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program will provide effective peer-facilitated review sessions for historically difficult courses, offering a collaborative environment for students to assimilate course material with effective study skills.
Benchmarks:
- SI program meets or exceeds demand in freshman and sophomore level courses.
- Increase the number of SI Leaders proportionate to course additions.
- Increase the number of SI Supervisors proportionate to SI Leader additions.
- Increase student use of SI by 100 students per year.
- Increase methods of promoting SI by at least 2 per year.
- Offer at least 2 SI Leader training sessions per year.
- Increase the number of computers available to SI Leaders proportionate to course additions.
Objective 1: Expand the SI Program.
Strategies:
- Determine courses that will benefit from the assistance of the SI program.
- Work with professors to find qualified SI Leaders.
- Hire an additional SI Supervisor per group of 7 SI Leaders.
Objective 2: Increase name recognition and awareness of the SI Program.
Strategies:
- Create and distribute an informational SI brochure to alert department chairs and faculty of the assistance that SI can provide to their students.
- Utilize the TTU portal to increase contact with students.
Objective 3: Improve facilitation techniques of SI Leaders.
Strategies:
- Implement semesterly training for SI Leaders.
- Offer additional training and development throughout each semester based upon SI Supervisor and peer observations.
Objective 4: Increase technology use.
Strategies:
- Provide at least 1 computer per group of 7 SI Leaders.
- Employ new technology to increase efficiency and effectiveness of SI sessions.
Technical Unit
Goal: Provide technological support and assistance and create ‘user-friendly’ computing environment to students and staff in Academic Support Services, and use maximum advantages of technology to achieve reliable, efficient and excellent access.
Benchmarks:
- Upgrade to digital video streaming.
- Implement supporting software.
- Enhance web applications.
Objective 1: Deliver technology to Students.
Strategies:
- Maintain computing facilities provided to students.
- Develop and use new technologies.
- Improve internal applications.
Objective 2: Deliver technological support and assistance to the units of PASS.
Strategies:
- Upgrade to latest versions of existing software and integrate new technologies.
- Understand technological needs to enhance the applications.
- Upgrade applications according to Banner.
- Continue to support internal applications, databases and communication networks.
Texas Success Initiative
Goal: The Texas Success Initiative program will create a more effective learning environment in which students have the ability and time to gain the knowledge and skills to prepare to be successful in upper level reading, writing, and mathematics courses.
Benchmarks:
- TSI Completion rate of students from freshman to sophomore year to 70%
- Increase success rate of mathematics liable TSI students to 5%
- Increase the total success rate of TSI students to 75%
- Improve the success rate of the C or better courses to 30% for all TSI students
- Have at least two training and developmental opportunities available to TSI instructors and staff
- Provide two additional support staff to improve work environment and developmental course skills courses within five years.
- Create developmental Unit Coordinator for Reading and Writing position
- Provide more functional rooms by adding additional instructional resources.
Objective 1: Determine reasons that students from freshman to sophomore fail to complete the TSI program.
Strategies:
- Students will complete evaluations every semester on TSI requirements
- Make necessary changes to affect rules imposed by the Coordinating Board
Objective 2: Students complete their prescribed TSI courses successfully in a timely manner.
Strategies:
- Provide students with information on support services provided on campus each semester
- Report student passing scores for each student to advance to the next prescribed TSI course
Objective 3: Students complete their C or better courses in a timely manner.
Strategies:
- Encourage and place students in institution approved C or better courses immediately after developmental courses are complete
- Report student C or better completion rate through TechReports each semester
Objective 4: Students complete mathematics liable courses successfully each semester
Strategies:
- Encourage students to use support services available to them
- Encourage students to meet with the instructor of TSI math
Objective 5: Increase the efficacy of the TSI curriculum in all areas
Strategies:
- Review curriculum for all areas annually
- Develop and deliver Reading, Writing, and Mathematics courses through Extended Studies
- Make use of WebCT in the curriculum of the developmental areas
- Increase the instruction length from eight weeks to fifteen weeks
Objective 6: Improve instructor teaching techniques and knowledge
Strategies:
- Conduct performance evaluations on an annual basis
- Encourage instructors to review new literature
- Encourage instructors to have students complete the learning style inventory
- Encourage instructors to attend TLTC presentations
Objective 7: Acquire additional funding and office space to increase the TSI staff by two full time employees
Strategies:
- Hire a Reading and Writing Unit Coordinator
- Hire one additional staff member to aid the Unit Coordinators
Objective 8: Enhance the lecture rooms and include audio/visual capabilities
Strategies:
- Install new white boards and remove chalk boards in TSI classrooms
- Install computer and projector in TSI classrooms for instructors use
XL: Strategies for Learning
Mission
The XL: Strategies for Learning program provides students with opportunities for personal and academic skill development through coursework and individualized instruction. The program pinpoints and alleviates specific problems that hinder a student's academic success.
Goal I: Improve retention by providing tools to promote academic excellence.
Benchmarks:
- 65% of XL students pass the course, and achieving a 2.0 semester GPA.
- 85% completion rate for XL students.
- Develop a support program to continue needed services with students after completing the XL program.
Objective 1: Improve success of XL students.
Strategies:
- Interact with college deans and advisors to develop relationships to assess needs of college-specific probation freshmen.
- Tailor individual XL sections with curricula directed to college-specific participants, optional students, transfer students and students repeating the course.
Objective 2: Determine reasons students fail academically after completing XL requirements.
Strategies:
- Gather data thru electronic survey, instructor follow-up and evaluation of graduation rates.
- Devise an intervention plan based on midterm grade reports for the semester immediately after XL completion.
Goal II: Enhance the educational experience for XL students and instructors.
Benchmarks:
- All XL students will complete the recommended Career Center assessments and attend advising.
- Update curriculum and materials on an annual basis.
- Create a fully online version of XL 0201 to service off campus student needs.
- Every instructor will attend one training opportunity each semester.
Objective 2.1: Intensify the search for personal, academic and career identity in our students.
Strategies:
- Encourage student relationships with their instructors and academic advisors thru curriculum requirements.
- Cooperate with campus programs to get XL students to the services needed.
- Require students to visit the Career Center for assessments and advising.
- Enlist peer/faculty or staff mentors for XL students.
- Incorporate the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People curriculum into all aspects of the course.
Objective 2.2: Continually develop and modernize course curriculum.
Strategies:
- Develop and deliver an online version of XL 0201.
- Create a more thorough semester identity summation tool to coincide or replace the final essay.
- Continue development of course management systems such as WebCT to improve delivery of course content.
Objective 2.3: Improve instructor knowledge and teaching skills.
Strategies:
- Require each instructor to attend a seminar thru the TLTC regularly to improve on teaching quality.
- Encourage instructors to attend each others lectures to broaden ideas of course material delivery and create a sharing community.
- Conduct performance evaluations on an annual basis.