COMPLIANCE AUDIT REPORTS

Section 3: Compliance Standard 3.8.2
The institution ensures that users have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources. 

Statement of Compliance: Dyersburg State Community College is in compliance with Compliance Standard 3.8.2. 

Rationale for Judgment of Compliance:

Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) ensures that users, faculty, staff and students, have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources.

The Vice President for the College is the DSCC administrator primarily responsible for Comprehensive Standards-Educational Programs 3.8.2 [Ref 1]. The Dean of the Learning Resource Center is the instructional administrative staff member reporting to the Vice President for the college also associated with responsibilities for this principle. The Instructional Librarian, the Librarian/Computer Technician, the Media Specialist and the Coordinator of Distance Education/Instructional Design Specialist assist in meeting the requirements of this standard.

Student Information Skills Instruction

DSCC provides a multi-level information skills program to assist students in becoming information   literate. The multi-levels of the program are: basic searching skills, information searching skills, researching skills, and discipline specific research skills [Ref 2]. The program is designed to meet the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education [Ref 3].

Information technology and resources are useless if students and faculty do not have the necessary information skills to use them. Information skills include the ability to access, process, analyze, and communicate information.  The program goal is that each DSCC student has the necessary information skills to succeed in his/her career or additional education. 

In 2005-2006 the Instructional Librarians and the Librarian/Computer Technician conducted 151 Information Skills sessions with 3,247 participants [Ref 4].   
 

In the fall semester a literacy test is given to a random sample of incoming students. At the end of the spring semester a new version of the same literacy survey is given to a random sample of students. The results of the this literacy survey demonstrate that the program is effective. In 2005-2006, the incoming student literacy was 15 percent and at end-of-academic year, literacy was 72 percent
[Ref 5]. 

A professional staff member is available to assist students individually in their research efforts and/or with computer-related or software problems.

Online Student Information Skills Instruction

 Information skills instruction is provided to online students in the online resource CD that is sent to all online students with a letter of introduction before the class begins [Ref 6]. The CD contains an information skills tutorial and other tutorials that online students need to be successful.  The CD has gone through several revisions. It is continually reviewed and improved based on input from instructors. The help desk staff as well as the Instructional Librarian provide one-on-one phone and email assistance. Since many of the online students are taking at least one on-ground class, they also receive the on-ground instruction and assistance.

Faculty and Staff Information Skills Instruction                       

The Dean of the Learning Resource Center provides an information skills session for all new faculty and staff as part of the Academy for New Faculty-Staff, an orientation workshop for new faculty and professional staff. An information skills update is presented each fall at the Fall and Spring Adjunct Faculty Workshop. Information skills sessions are presented as needed at the Fall and Spring Conference for faculty and staff. Assistance to faculty and staff is always available on an individualized basis.

General Instruction to Students in Personal Computing

Information skills sessions frequently include instruction in computer skills and use of word processing software, PowerPoint, internet and e-mail. These are seen as auxiliary skills to information literacy. The Help Desk provides one-on-one assistance and instruction in personal computing in the LRC [Ref 7].

The new LRC in Dyersburg has a large computer laboratory consisting of 40 Pentium IV computers and 24 wireless laptop computers available for students to complete assignments and projects requiring internet research [Ref 8]. Help Desk assistance is available during all hours of operation at the LRC. The Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County (JNC) new LRC has an area with 30 computer workstations and 24 wireless laptops available for student us [Ref 9].  The Librarian/Computer Technician assists students using these computers.  At the Gibson County Center (GCC) LRC 16 computer workstations are available for student use.

Instruction for Faculty on Integrating Technology into Teaching

During their first semester of employment at DSCC, all new full-time temporary and permanent faculty members are required to participate in the New Faculty/Staff Academy. The academy introduces them to the staff and services of the instructional technology center and the instructional development center. They are encouraged to take advantage of these services. The Coordinator of Distance Education/Instructional Design Specialist conducts technology and development sessions regularly in the conference for faculty and staff in the Fall and Spring. He also conducts  workshops related to the technology of teaching throughout the year.  The Coordinator provides training for the adjunct faculty at the Adjunct faculty workshops in the Fall and Spring.  In addition he has developed a Faculty Lounge available through WebCT for information on and discussion of learning technology and strategies. 

Individualized instruction is always available to faculty unable to attend advertised workshops related to the technology of teaching. The new learning resource center houses the instructional technology center and instructional development center that provide the latest hardware and software for incorporating technology into instructional methodology [Ref 10].  The JNC LRC has an instructional development workstation with assistance from the Librarian/Computer Technician. 

Authored by Mr. Bob Lhota in coordination with the SACS Leadership Team 

Documentation: