Institute/Session Summary:

This institute will present an introduction to tutor program certification. It is intended for learning center directors, personnel in charge of tutor training and anyone interested in learning about the tutor program certification process. Questions are continually addressed to the chair of the ITPC committee regarding the certification process which indicates the strong interest in learning about tutor program certification. This institute addresses the needs of those interested in learning about the certification process but are just in the beginning stages of learning about certification. We will have several presenters to clarify the certification requirements, to present the benefits of tutor program certification to the institution, the tutor training program and the tutors. We will connect to the internet to familiarize participants with the CRLA website and the Tutor Program Certification section and the actual application. We will explain the application process along with application do's and don'ts.

There will be several ITPC evaluators on hand to help participants complete the Certification Self Assessment to help attendees determine where their program stands in terms of readiness for certification. We will have completed applications of currently certified programs for attendees to review and get a better idea of what a completed application looks like.

Presenter1 Name: Tina Barnes
Presenter1 Institution: Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman's College)
Presenter1 Bio: Tina is the Chair of the International Tutor Program Certification Committee. For her day job she is the Director of the Learning Resources Center and Disability Services at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (soon to be the newly coed Randolph College, fall 2007). She has been active in CRLA since 2000 and has been the Chair of the International Tutor Program Certification Committee since 2005. The Learning Resources Center has subject matter tutors for ever subject in the college (with the exception of Math and Science) and has tutors for all areas of study skills. Tina received her B.A. in Teaching Special Education in 1974 at George Peabody College for teachers (now the College of Education of Vanderbilt University)and her M.A. in Teaching Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado in 1975. She taught students with learning disabilities for 25 years before moving to the post-secondary level in 2000.

Presenter2 Name: Terri Massie-Burrel
Presenter2 Institution: Towson University
Presenter2 Bio: Terri Massie-Burrell is the Director of Towson University’s multi-service Academic Achievement Center (AAC), which is in the Division of Academic Affairs. Terri is a part-time faculty member in the College of Education on the campus. Towson University is the second largest institution in the University of Maryland system located in suburban Baltimore County. The university has a total student body of nearly 19,000 students; of which 13,500 are undergraduates. Since fall 2002, Terri has served as director and led the center to earn CRLA’s level 3 tutor program certification and national college learning center website award two consecutive years.

The AAC primarily serves undergraduates with major emphases in peer tutoring, study skills, structured study sessions and individualized academic coaching for all students. She also serves as co-chair of CRLA’s ‘Learning Assistance Center Management” SIG and is former Co-Leader of Peer Tutoring. The center was recognized two consecutive years by National College Learning Center Association & Learning Support Centers in Higher Education receiving third place for the website excellence competition.

Presenter3 Name: Penny Turrentine
Presenter3 Institution: Pima Community College
Presenter3 Bio: Penny Turrentine (PhD in Language, Reading, and Culture, University of Arizona)is Director of the West Campus Learning Center, Pima Community College and Coordinator of Pima’s online tutoring program. She is an evaluator for CRLA’s International Tutor Program Certification. Her current research interests include online tutoring, tutor training programs, professional development and credentialing for learning center leadership. She may be contacted at the West Campus Learning Center, Pima Community College, 2202 West Anklam Rd., Tucson, AZ 85709, (520) 206-6796, or by email at penny.turrentine@pima.edu.