Back See this section in context: Criterion 3 Core Component 3D

3D.3: Evaluation of Learning Resources

All of Sauk's learning resources are subject to the institution’s planning and review processes.

• Operational planning: Discrete units like the Library, LAC, and IS/IT do separate Operational Plans and evaluate their contributions to the college’s Strategic Plan each year. This process results in plans to make improvements in teaching and learning, among other Strategic Goals. Other resources, particularly those tied closely to a curricular area, like laboratory and clinical facilities, are evaluated within the specific academic area to which they apply. In all cases, an opportunity for annual evaluation is in place, and actions receive documentation in the Operational Plan and in the budget process when applicable.
• Program review: Every five years, support departments participate in program review, at which time an evaluation of data informs decision-making for the future and feeds into the strategic planning system.
• Committee structure: Each of the primary learning resources has cross-curricular evaluation available for its annual review of data and operational planning through the Sauk committee structure:
  • The Learning Resource Center Committee reviews and provides feedback for all major LRC policy and rule changes. As evidenced by committee minutes, the LRC benefits from committee review of data and resources and cross-institutional brainstorming on ways of improving service. For example, an effort to improve the holdings and use of the database collection resulted from committee suggestions.
  • The Institutional Technology Committee, a cross-institutional committee, participates in annual planning for IS/IT. The committee recommends technology priorities and assists in ongoing review of services. Valuable feedback has been provided by the student members of the committee. For example, when student members indicated that most students prefer to use the email they had prior to coming to Sauk, the website was revised to include instructions for students to forward their Sauk email to another email account.
  • The LAC participates in the Developmental Education Committee to enhance the benefit from cooperation and collaboration with other offices designed to foster student success. As a member of the committee, the LAC Coordinator has participated in the cross-institutional effort to create coordinated tutor training, establish the Testing Center, increase access to special needs tutors in the LAC, and improve services to developmental-level students.