The League for Innovation’s Learning College Project has
shaped the philosophical foundation of PVCC. Simply stated, a
Learning Centered College (LCC) is one that makes a deep and measurable
commitment to student, employee and organizational learning. PVCC
uses its “Twelve
Indicators of a Learning-Centered College” to chart
our progress towards a higher level of learning centeredness.
Learning is the core value of the college and serves as the primary
consideration in all decision-making. Each of the college’s
major systems has been reconsidered and changed to reflect this
commitment to learning. Some examples of systems that have been
modified are:
A. Human Resource System:
All of PVCC’s faculty and MAT (Management, Administrative
and Technical) and many PSA (Professional Staff Association)
position descriptions and hiring materials have been modified
to reflect our commitment to learning. Our screening and selection
processes include a sharp focus on each candidate’s understanding
of learning and learners, learning strategies and tools (including
technology), and assessment. All candidates are now routinely
referred to PVCC’s website for information on our LCC
focus.
B. Planning and Budgeting System:
Our college’s strategic and operational planning processes,
along with our budget proposal and decision-making processes,
are explicitly tied to learning. Learning is integrated in each
of the college’s eight strategic issues. Our commitment
to organizational learning means that our college’s systems
will be improved based on what we learn through the collective
wisdom that flows from collaboration. This is demonstrated most
notably in the APB (Automated Planning and Budgeting) System
which makes all operational plans, budget proposals and budget
decisions open for review by all employees.
C. Employee and Organizational Learning System (E&OL):
A college-wide commitment to organizational learning can be
seen in the work of PVCC’s faculty- and staff-development
committees. The development of Learning Weeks, the refinement
of orientation programs for new employees and adjunct faculty,
the introduction of the Conference Team Learning (which is a
“bring it back and share” expectation for conference
participants), technology training, the development of the President’s
Advance, and the focused support for division and department
level retreats are examples of how E&OL enhances the college’s
commitment to learning.
D. Learning and Learning Support Systems:
Based on what we know about learning and learners, PVCC has
initiated a variety of unique programs and services that reflect
our commitment to learning as our core value. Learning
Communities, the First
Year Experience (FYE) and Service
Learning are examples of programs that emerged from our
dialogue about learning. The Choices@PVCC
Program also reflects the college’s commitment to providing
higher levels of access to learning for students who prefer
or require alternative learning formats. The development of
the Under-Prepared
Student Initiative (USI) as a college-wide effort to better
serve the increasing number of under-prepared students entering
PVCC is informed by what our faculty and staff have come to
know about this special population of students.
PVCC’s menu of learning support services has been expanded
to include specialized labs for writing, math, and languages,
along with the addition of grammar and punctuation workshops.
The systemic integration of this focus on learning is also evidenced
in the following ways: PVCC’s
Athletics Program, which has identified specific learning outcomes
and has placed a sharp focus on the academic achievement of
PVCC’s student-athletes; the Student
Leadership Program and the Emerging
Leaders Program; and the commitment from the College’s
Maintenance and Operation staff and the College
Safety Office to support learning by providing a clean,
attractive and safe learning environment for all learners.
| Crosscutting Themes Intro
| Learning-Centered College | Culture
of Assessment |
| Living the Mission | Program
Review, Evaluation and Connections to Our Community |
