Learning Center Content

Dean Blumberg boosted tutoring center engagement at Connecticut State by conducting brief class visits and sending informal emails to faculty. This approach, including impromptu presentations, led to a massive increase in student visits. The strategy demonstrates how direct outreach can effectively promote academic support services.

Learning centers can use email marketing to reach students, particularly those in high-risk courses. Strategies include personalizing content, timing emails strategically throughout the semester, and integrating with other communication channels. Centers track metrics like open rates and service utilization to assess effectiveness. They often use software tools to manage campaigns and continuously refine their approach based on data analysis. These email marketing efforts aim to increase student engagement with tutoring and support services.

Embedded tutoring and group sessions boost student success in higher education. Tutors attend classes and offer out-of-class support, often with faculty involvement. Research supports their efficacy in improving grades and persistence. Implementation challenges include faculty buy-in, tutor recruitment, and student participation. Strategies to overcome these include starting with receptive faculty, offering incentives, using faculty recommendations for tutors, and enhancing student engagement. Success comes from starting small, demonstrating results, and expanding gradually while adapting to institutional needs.

Learning centers often struggle to engage students who need the help most. This month's LCU walks through the basic three-stop process for this: (1) Identifying target students (e.g. enrolled in high DFW course), (2) increasing engagement in that segment, and (3) reporting on success to demonstrate your impact to leadership. This article highlights some of the key ways you can approach each step.

Learning center professionals are expected to be data scientists, on top of all of your other duties. This article covers five useful Excel tips, from navigating efficiently to the powerful SUMIFS to resizing columns, that will come in handy in your reporting processes.