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3.4.9 |
The institution provides appropriate academic support services |
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X |
Compliance |
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Conditional Compliance |
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Non-Compliance |
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RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT |
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Nashville State Technical Community College (NSCC) provides academic support services to students to increase student’s opportunity to be successful in college by providing tutoring, academic advising, services to students with disabilities, a library, and computer laboratories. The college provides academic support services to faculty designed to strengthen academic programs and to enhance learning in the classroom. Services to faculty include an academic teaching and resource center, and faculty in-services
Tutoring NSCC provides several types of tutoring for students who need extra academic help. The Learning Center provides professional tutors for math and English. Other subjects are also available based on tutor availability and student needs [1]. NSCC also subscribes to Smarthinking, an online tutorial service that provides tutoring for students at the off-campus sites, in distance education programs, or who simply can’t come to the Learning Center during its open hours [2].
Academic Advising NSCC utilizes an advising model in which new degree-seeking students are assisted in registering for classes in several ways. Students are given the opportunity to attend a New Student Orientation program which includes a general overview of the college and student support services as well as assistance in selecting and registering for classes. New Student Orientation programs are held prior to fall, spring, and summer terms and are advertised in the college schedule and on the website [3]. A second method students may utilize to select and register for classes is to visit the Advising Center where they will be assisted by peer advisors. Peer advising is available prior to the start of each semester. Also available to students is an interactive advising tool on the web which walks the student through the process of applying and registering for classes. The advising tool also answers general questions associated with entering college [4].
Continuing students receive academic advising directly from an assigned faculty advisor. Students are assigned to advisors based on the academic program in which they are enrolled ([5].
Services to Students with Disabilities Nashville State provides assistance and accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Services include assistance with academic planning and registration, as well as accommodation assistance. The Student Disability Services office serves approximately 200 students each semester with disabilities which include Attention Deficit Disorder, deafness or hearing impaired, physical, learning, or psychological disabilities, visually impaired, and health related disabilities. The majority of students are assisted with learning disabilities [6].
Library The library provides many services for students and faculty. Faculty can bring their classes to the library for research orientations. A librarian is available to provide individual help with any student who has research problems. Furthermore, there is an “Ask the Librarian” link on the web page so that students may get individual help with research questions when they are not on campus. There is a library orientation at the library website as well as research guides for students. All databases are accessible from home with the use of student campus-wide identification numbers. The library also subscribes to several ebook collections in the general, technical, and reference areas [7].
Computer Laboratories Multiple computer labs are available on campus, although they are not always open for security reasons. However, faculty try to schedule sufficient time for students to work on assignments on needed hardware/software such as the Macs for Visual Communication and CAD software for engineering Technology students. The Learning Center, located inside the library, receives the heaviest use of any computer lab, with forty computers availablefor student use. At any time during the Learning Center’s open hours, students may come in to type a paper, work on a WebCT course, develop a presentation, or email their instructors.
Help Desk and Open Lab NSCC provides Help Desk and an open computer lab in the Clement Building to assist students in becoming proficient users of technology and in completing assignments in their courses. The Help Desk is used by all students, faculty, and staff. The most frequent Help Desk requests concern login, WebCT, and faculty/staff account processing issues, and these issues are usually resolved during the first contact. During 2006, the Help Desk received 7,000 phone calls and 15,266 emails. The Clement Open Lab includes 25 computers and experiences an average of 2,106 logins per month during the academic year. Additional information about these services is available at the Computer Help Desk web site [9]. Both the Help Desk and Clement Open Lab are open to students 67.5 hours per week.
Academic Teaching and Resource Center The Instructional Services Office provides assistance to faculty who desire to add technology to their classes in order to improve student learning. The Center runs a semester-long course on WebCT for those instructors who are interested in developing or teaching a web course. There are also individual sessions on topics such as online testing, maintaining the grade book, and adding presentations to courses. The IS office also presents several other in-services on relevant topics. For example, the emphasis for the 2006-07 academic year will be ADA compliance in web and hybrid courses. The IS Office also works individually with faculty members who want to add specific learning objects to their classes [8].
In-service Training NSCC is committed to providing professional development to its faculty and staff. Each year, a series of in-services is scheduled so that all faculty will have the opportunity to attend. In-service topics are determined by campus need and faculty request [9]. |
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DOCUMENTATION |
SOURCE LOCATION |
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[1] List of tutors and areas of expertise |
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[2] Smarthinking Online Tutors |
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[3] New Student Orientation |
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[4] Prospective, New, and Current Student Advising Information |
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[5] Academic advising information |
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[6] Student with Disabilities information |
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[7] NSCC Library web page |
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[8] Instructional Services web page |
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[9] In-services |
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| [10] Help Desk and Open Lab information | http://www.nscc.edu/help_desk/index.html |