Center for Learning, Leadership, and Teaching (2011 Strategic Plan)

This center represents a new initiative that would enhance and reinvigorate current programs, offices, and academic centers by bringing together under one roof the Writing Center, Quantitative Skills, Qualitative and Interpretive Research, Academic Advising, Disabilities Services, and the current Center for Teaching and Learning. There would be small conference rooms and at least one full size classroom with appropriate teaching technology. As a multifaceted physical space, the center would provide a place for study, peer mentoring, peer writing groups, tutoring, and instruction. The center would also support academic engagement outside the classroom through a network of academic support services and learning and leadership opportunities. Another goal of the center would be to facilitate connections across the campus, generating cross-School and cross-program discussions that spark innovative pedagogy. To this end the center would sponsor forums, trainings, workshops, skill-shares, and programming that address issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and difference, as well as pedagogical content. The center could also offer support services to faculty and staff such as small grants for course development, funds for speakers, and administrative assistance in developing cross-college symposia. Finally, the center would provide training and professional development workshops for staff and administrators.

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * This is a great concept, but where would we put it? Sounds like a huge new building. - Alynda Wood
 * Agreed this does sound great. I'm curious to see how different building projects will be financed and prioritized, as there are a few prospective ones in these plans (community center, library, etc)- Ilana Rossoff F08
 * I also agree that this is a good concept, but likewise I am wondering where/when/with what money this would be built. What would happen to the buildings where these various programs are currently housed?  (Actually, I didn't even know some of these existed.  Maybe they need to be better advertised?)  Rebecca Thomas, F'07
 * Maybe this will just be in one of the places that is used currently to house these different programs, etc? Although I agree on better advertising.  Daniel Homer
 * This sounds like a different, broader interpretation of the Cumulative Skills Center I've heard many mention. In agreement with other commenters- where would this go? I think we really need to move beyond the belief that there needs to be a singular physical location housing everything having to do with a center - I could see these bits and pieces living in different parts of the college, but coordinated in a holistic fashion. We do a terrible job of educating students about all these different academic support options, and they are all managed differently. If they all coordinated, then they could begin having shared programming, complementary open times, and better outreach to students. - Ananda Valenzuela