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Return to: Services for Students
Learning & Organizational Development
Location:
Westview, Room 102
Associate Dean:
Rob Umbaugh, 970.339.6237
Staff Specialist:
Russell Iverson, 970.339.6229
Learning & Organizational Development is the area that addresses college-wide learning needs. This area encompasses services that support the lifelong learning skills of students. Additionally it addresses the college-wide needs for organizational development by assisting with grant development opportunities.
The departments within the Learning & Organizational Development area are:
Learning Commons
Location:
College Center, 2nd floor
Associate Dean:
Rob Umbaugh, 970.339.6237
Staff Specialist:
Russell Iverson, 970.339.6229
Director of Computer Learning Lab and Tutoring Services:
Mary Gabriel, 970.339.6248
Staff Specialist:
Mary Love, 970.339.6465
Lead Librarian:
Ellen Willis, 970.339.6347
The Learning Commons provides numerous services to students and faculty in support of their educational goals and objectives. Located on the second floor of the College Center, this area includes the Computer Learning Lab, Kiefer Library and Tutoring Services. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere fosters learning, independent study, and collaborative effort to support student success. Here you will find open-use computers, the library collection, and tutoring assistance, along with wireless access, group study rooms, casual seating, and a reading room. Knowledgeable staff have expertise in academic, library, career, and technical areas. For additional information and hours of operation, please see our website listed below. Please note that overdue library materials will incur late charges.
- Large number of PC and Mac computers loaded with current software
- NOOK readers loaded with e-books are available for checkout to students and staff
- Laptop computers are available for 7-day checkout to students
- Two group study rooms and a relaxed reading room
- Unlimited computer time (depending on open hours and availability)
- Fast Internet connection and wireless capability
- Copiers, scanners, and printers for general use
- Assistance with the Disability Access Services lab and equipment
- Curriculum support across disciplines, including CIS, Business Technology, AutoCAD, Graphics Technology and various programming languages
- Drop-in tutoring available in math, English, writing, reading, and limited science
- Individual, group, and Guided Study Group tutoring for selected subjects
- Study skills sessions and workshops available to provide techniques and tips, useful in all course work
- Online assistance available 24/7 through the Online Writing Lab and Academic Resources web pages
- Writers’ Community sessions
- Online tutoring available
- Course-embedded tutoring
- Library collection includes print, DVD, audio book, and electronic materials
- 24/7 access to full-text books, periodical articles, and databases including access to ebrary with over 80,000 full-text online books
- 24/7 access to high quality research information through our subject specific Libguides
- 24/7 virtual reference through Ask Academic
- Remote access to electronic library materials through the library web page at http://www.aims.edu/kieferlibrary/database/index.php
- Course textbooks available for 2-hour checkout
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Introduction
The Supplemental Instruction Program at Aims Community College is committed to helping students learn more systematically by providing avenues for organized group study. Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a method of academic support that has proven effective in improving student academic success in courses with traditionally high D, F, and withdrawal rates. Supplemental Instruction initiatives at Aims actively address issues regarding student learning, persistence and retention. Aims’ program is designed to provide academic support for courses that have historically high withdrawal and failure rates based on internal and external statistics.
The SI model has proven to be nationally effective. Students who participate in SI have seen the following:
- Higher mean final grades than those who do not participate
- Lower percentage of withdrawals and final grades of D or F than students who do not participate in SI, regardless of prior academic achievement of the students
- Higher retention and graduation rates than those who do not participate, regardless of the prior academic achievement of the students
Contact:
Mary Gabriel
mary.gabriel@aims.edu
970.339.6248
Locations:
Greeley Campus
College Center, 2nd Floor, South Wing
Computer Learning Lab and Tutoring Services 970.339.6541
Kiefer Library 970.339.6458
Computer lab, library, and tutoring services are also available at the following locations:
Fort Lupton Campus
Room 107, 303.718.5905
Loveland Campus Room 105.1 and 105.2, 970.667.4611, ext. 3304
For additional information and hours of operation, please visit our website: http://www.aims.edu/learning-commons/.
Learning Communities
The Learning Community Program at Aims Community College is designed to help students form connections for academic and social support by taking classes together as a group. Each learning community consists of classes (usually 2-3) scheduled in a cluster. Faculty teaching courses in the community work together to link class topics and assignments.
Participation in a learning community can make your academic experiences at Aims Community College more stimulating and enjoyable.
- Research shows that students in learning communities tend to be more successful in college than their peers.
- Learning community students typically discover they feel more comfortable on campus.
- Students make friends more easily, create a network of fellow students and faculty for academic assistance, and get better grades.
Learning communities are organized to fulfill a variety of educational needs so students can make steady progress toward their degree while taking interesting classes. The faculty members participating in the Learning Community Program are among the best teachers on campus, and their commitment to the program is an example of their interest in creating an active learning environment that supports each student’s academic and personal development.
Consult an advisor for more information about learning communities at Aims.
Program Contact:
Rob Umbaugh
rob.umbaugh@aims.edu
970.339.6237
Assessment of Student Learning
Recognizing the need for organized and ongoing assessment of student achievement and program objectives, Aims Community College is committed to establishing and sustaining a culture of learning which is accomplished through inquiry and driven by evidence. Data and information gathered from Assessment of Student Learning activities will be used by faculty, staff, and administrators to focus assessment efforts on improving student learning, supporting faculty needs to do so through professional development opportunities, and making necessary organizational enhancements based on the results. The ultimate responsibility for academic assessment (Assessment of Student Learning) belongs to the faculty; the responsibility for assessment of non-academic units resides with the administrators and managers.
Assessment of Student Learning at Aims Community College is grounded in the college’s commitment to the Learning College Principles. The college is continuing to make strides in its efforts to emphasize Learner-Centered Assessment approaches. These approaches demonstrate that assessment is most effective when it reflects an understanding of learning that is multidimensional, integrated, and revealed in performance over time.
The purposes of assessment at Aims Community College include, but are not limited to, the following:
- To increase student achievement in both curricular and co-curricular areas
- To improve instruction, curriculum, and other teaching-related activities
- To facilitate articulation of the college’s core learning outcomes
- To focus the institutional mission on quality and level of student achievement
- To promote faculty and staff development and to improve programs, program planning, and development
- To improve service delivery, effectiveness, and other operational activities
Location:
Allied Health and Sciences, Room 206
Contact:
Dr. Shelly Ray Parsons, Director of Academic Assessment
SOLA@aims.edu
970.339.6460
Faculty Teaching and Learning Center
The Faculty Teaching and Learning Center (FTLC) provides and facilitates rich professional development opportunities for all faculty, both full and part time. The FTLC is faculty led and faculty driven and is dedicated to our common mission to help students learn.
Location:
Westview, Room 104
Contact:
Patricia Rand, Director
FTLC@aims.edu
970.339.6649
Center for Professional Development
Employee professional development at Aims provides a variety of learning opportunities to staff, teams, and departments through-out the college. Learning opportunities may be specific training for individual skills that help an individual in performing their day-to-day duties, or specific training for a department, and/or professional development (training in one’s profession, related to one’s profession or training for a higher level position within the organization).
For questions regarding the Center for Professional Development, please contact Damion H. Cordova, Director, Human Resources, at 339-6656 as the CPD is housed in General Services within the HR department.
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