APPENDIX 3

Draft Learning-Centered Initiative
Goals and Action Agenda

DRAFT

LEARNING CENTERED INITIATIVE
GOALS AND ACTION AGENDA
VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

JULY 12, 2000

I. LEARNING FIRST
Shape the culture of Valencia by making learning the chief value and design principle in every college policy, procedure, plan, and initiative. In every decision, we will consciously ask two questions: "How will this enhance student learning?" and "How do we know this will enhance student learning?"

ACTION AGENDA:

A. Adopt a new, learning centered strategic plan

B. Implement a new budget process to incorporate both in process and outcome the learning centered principle

C. Conduct a review of college policy and organization for revision to support the learning centered principle

D. Implement a campus and department planning and budgeting process to strengthen learning at each campus

E. Support faculty scholarship and college-wide reflection on learning

F.Shift college emphasis from growth (FTE) to quality (optimum conditions for learning) with planned growth (enrollment planning, guaranteed schedule, staffing for quality, etc.)

G. Renew the college's campus master plans to anticipate future learning needs and opportunities in the community and to prepare for future construction, technology requirements, and changes needed to existing campus facilities to support learning

H.Renew the organization, its decision and communication processes, to assure that they are collaborative, learning centered, and more effective for moving from design to implementation of new initiatives

II.START RIGHT
Commit to dramatic improvement in student mastery of foundation learning outcomes that will largely govern their success, their performance in advanced collegiate studies, and their persistence to graduation.

Make this a major investment priority and the focus of much of the early effort in the Learning Centered Initiative.

ACTION AGENDA:

Improve the ratios of full-time faculty in these foundational courses

B. Fully implement LifeMap and assure that every student has a plan to graduate

C. Expand the participation and impact of the Student Success Course

D. Develop and implement a robust, coordinated program of instructional support (tutoring, extended learning centers, learning labs, etc.) for each campus

E. Expand learning options for students to address their diversity of learning styles and improve access

F. Review the college's dual enrollment program to achieve learning centered goals

G.Reach back effectively to public school partners to support their efforts to graduate more students ready for college level learning

III.LEARNING LEADERSInvest in faculty and staff, the people who most directly effect the quality of student learning.

ACTION AGENDA:

A. Review and revise the processes of hiring, induction, and support of new full-time faculty to reflect learning centered principles

B. Review and revise the Faculty Academy and the process of awarding tenure to reflect learning centered principles

C. Review the mix of full-time, four-month, and adjunct faculty and related load policies to develop a multi-year strategy to achieve a better balance

D. Review and revise the processes of performance feedback throughout the college to reflect learning centered principles

E. Review and redesign the college and campus programs for professional development, including SPD, grant programs, reassigned time, sabbaticals, etc.

F. Review and revise the college's compensation systems to reflect learning centered principles

G. Give particular attention to the value of diversity in learning organizations and achieving diversity goals for the college

IV. LEARNING BY DESIGN
Create a culture where clearly specified learning outcomes and assessment engage students as responsible partners in their learning and where the collge's learning leaders can effectively create the best conditions for learning.

ACTION AGENDA

A. Conduct a college-wide assessment of the college's performance in specifying and assessing learning outcomes in every course

B. Beginning with foundation courses, specify and align curriculum outcomes and assessment processes for each course

C. Integrate the core competencies - Think, Value, Act, Communicate - across the curriculum

V. LEARNING SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Create systems of learning support that will complement classroom and other modes of learning and enable students to achieve extraordinary learning results.

ACTION AGENDA

A. Adopt a plan for instructional technology support rooted in learning centered principles

B. Review and revise the structure and staffing of technology support in the college to assure effectiveness in rendering ongoing support to learning and teaching

C. Implement new information tools for registration, advising, student records, and other functions in support of student learning and matriculation

D. Develop and implement an effective strategy for the college's presence on the world-wide web

E. Renew the resources and staffing of the libraries for learning support

F. Develop an organization and model for leading and coordinating learning support on each campus and across the college, including libraries, extended learning support, tutoring, learning labs, open computing resources, internet support, network management, email, and support of faculty and staff

G. Complete a study of the feasibility of on campus child care and other alternatives for supporting the learning environment for students with child care needs

VI. LEARNING WORKS
Valencia has a vital mission in economic development and it, too, is governed by learning centered principles.

ACTION AGENDA

A. Create and expand programs of professional and technical education that support high value employment and economic development in our community

B. Develop a much expanded capacity to deliver high value Information Technology training and education

C. Develop a Global Language and Cultures Institute

D. Create strong, strategic partnerships with corporations and agencies in the community to enhance Valencia's role in economic development

E. Employ learning centered principles in the design and delivery o all corporate, continuing, and technical education programs

F. Review and renew our model of corporate services

G. Develop a capacity to employ learning management systems for corporate and other clients

H. Review and revise the program evaluation/review process for technical education programs to incorporate learning centered principles