AQIP Action Project Commitment Proposal
(Items below are followed by brief explanations of what is required, in italics, after the item.)
A. Project Title/Dates
Creating a Tutor Training Program Certified by the College Reading and Learning Association
Planned project kickoff date: _March 15, 2011__________________________________
Target project completion date: _June 15, 2012________________________________
B. Project Goal
The goal of this project will be to create a tutor training program that will enhance the tutoring
services at North Central State College and increase student retention and college completion
through more effective tutoring. Research shows that trained tutors are better able to support
students. The program will consist of three levels of certification, each requiring 10 hours of
training and tutoring for at least one quarter. An evaluation plan will be developed to assess
strengths and weaknesses of tutors, gaps in services offered, and effectiveness of methods
implemented.
C. Key Quality Indicator(s)
AQIP Category
Identify the single AQIP Category that this Action Project will most affect or impact.
X Helping Students Learn
□ Accomplishing Other Distinctive Objectives
□ Understanding Students and Other Stakeholders Needs
□ Valuing People
□ Leading and Communicating
□ Supporting Institutional Operations
□ Measuring Effectiveness
ENDS Policies
X GLOBAL ENDS POLICY
X DIVERSITY POLICY
□ JOB READINESS POLICY
□ HIGH DEMAND/EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES POLICY
□ CAREER DEVELOPMENT POLICY
□ TRANSFERABILITY POLICY
□ ENRICHMENT POLICY
NC State Strategic Focuses
□ Enhance Quality
X Improve Preparation for College
X Improve Student Success
□ Improve Successful Transition
□ Enhance Regional Development
Proposals are required for projects or activities a) that require budgetary resources beyond the sponsor's usual
operating budget, b) those that impact processes and people from more than one operational area, and/or c) those
that directly support the strategic plan/strategic initiatives of the institution.
D. Project Relevance
Student success is the foundation of all initiatives at North Central State College. Having a
population of students that is 70% developmental, tutoring is a crucial piece in supporting
retention and college completion goals. Research shows that one-on-one support enhances
student success more strongly than any other intervention.
E. Organizational Impact
The primary purpose of the Tutoring Center is to support what faculty do in the classroom. The
needs of faculty directly affect decisions made in the Center. Any academic department that
sends students to the Tutoring Center will be affected by this program. Departments that send
their students to the Tutoring Center currently include English, Math, Anatomy, Radiology,
Computer Information Systems, Physics, Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Criminal
Justice, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Sociology, Humanities, History, Developmental
Education, and college preparation for incoming students. We also do Compass preparation for
students that would like to re-test for the purpose of earning a higher placement level.
F. Key Processes
Tutoring methods and strategies will be directly impacted by this project. Also the hiring
process, evaluation plan, and training methods of the tutors will be re-evaluated and restructured.
G. Timeline/Milestones
This project began in March of 2010 when the Manager of Tutoring and Transition Services
attended the conference for the Association of the Tutoring Profession. Her main focus at this
conference was tutor training. Before the training program could be developed and submitted
to the College Reading and Learning Association for certification, a department policies and
procedures manual had to be created. This was completed August 2010. A tiered payscale has
been put in place that rewards tutors for earning the 3 levels of tutor certification. Although
tutor training has been taking place since the Center opened in September of 2009, tutors have
only been able to complete level 1 certification. By August 2011, all three levels will be
developed and ready for submission to the CRLA. Upon approval, level 2 trainings will begin fall
quarter 2011, and level 3 trainings will begin winter quarter 2012. Level 1 training will continue
and take place every quarter.
H. Project Monitoring
The project will be monitored by the Manager of Tutoring and Transition Services by evaluating
the timeline/progress and assessing the effectiveness of the project.
I. Assessment
To measure our effectiveness, we will use various methods. First, we will continue doing focus
groups with students that use the Tutoring Center. We will, also, do a quarterly survey to
measure effectiveness of the methods the tutors are using beginning Fall 2011. Finally, our
Institutional Research department gathers quarterly data on the grade distribution of the
developmental students that come to the Center. We will analyze the data to determine
whether or not the trainings are making an impact on students’ success. Also, we will collect
Proposals are required for projects or activities a) that require budgetary resources beyond the sponsor's usual
operating budget, b) those that impact processes and people from more than one operational area, and/or c) those
that directly support the strategic plan/strategic initiatives of the institution.
data on how many tutors become certified and at what levels. Every three years, the program
will need to be resubmitted for recertification by the CRLA.
J. Other Information
K. Project Leader and Contact Person (First Name, Middle Initial, Last name, Title,
Email,Telephone)
Project Leader: Barbara K Keener
419-755-4539
Date
Received
Planning
Advisory
Committee
Fwd
To
Manager of Tutoring and Transition Services
bkeener@ncstatecollege.edu
Date
Sent
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Date
Returned
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□
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Approved
By PAC?
□ Yes
□ No
Date:
Proposals are required for projects or activities a) that require budgetary resources beyond the sponsor's usual
operating budget, b) those that impact processes and people from more than one operational area, and/or c) those
that directly support the strategic plan/strategic initiatives of the institution.