Institute/Session Summary:

An open forum/panel presentation and small group interaction with website exploring updates on progress towards individual  professional certification for CRLA with a possible framework. The framework evolves from issues which have been explored such as the rationale/purpose, scope, procedures/process, skills,  previous proposals, experts in the field and specialty areas such as certification in technology, reading, writing, math,  etc. as well as other professional association models.

Purpose and Outline of Content:

The Professional Development Committee of CRLA has been charged with exploring possible models that might be implemented by CRLA for individual certification for professionals active in the fields of learning assistance, developmental education and tutorial services at the college/adult level. This open forum/panel presentation will focus on updates on progress towards this goal including issues such as the rationale/purpose, scope, procedures/process, skills, discussion from experts in field, previous proposals,  and specialty areas such as certification in technology, reading, writing, math, running learning centers, etc. as well as other professional association models.

Significance to the Field:

Many experts (Martha Maxwell, Martha Casazza, John Gardner, etc. ) have called for individual professional certification for years within CRLA and believe this will help move learning assistance and developmental education forward and help us gain more recognition within the postsecondary field. This open forum/panel will help to clarify a vision for CRLA professionals and provide a possible framework at this critical time in its evolution as a professional organization.

Relevance to CRLA Members and Conference Theme:

The goal of individual professional certification is central to our work as professionals in the field and will help to further provide legitimacy, credibility and political stature to our field in general and to individuals in particular. This opportunity to engage our profession on this topic in moving towards resolution of this issue is one of the central concerns as we transition into stronger professional recognition and parity in our partnerships with other associations and within our own institutional environments.

Plans to Engage the Audience:

The PDC committee will establish a website prior to the conference to present some background work to date and also establish an open forum for discussion of these issues that will continue into the conference. The audience will work in small groups around some of these topics and will present them to the larger audience. The PDC committee would then bring the results of this panel/open forum to the CRLA board after the conference and also include them in our committee website

Presenter1 Name: JoAnn Carter-Wells
Presenter1 Institution: CSU Fullerton
Presenter1 Bio: Dr.JoAnn Carter-Wells is Professor of Reading and Coordinator of the online certificate in Postsecondary Reading and Learning Program. She has been editor of both the CRLA Newsletter and the Journal of College Reading and Learning and presenter at numerous CRLA conferences. She is the author of The Language of Learning: Vocabulary for College and Careers (3 editions) and is currently the Chair of the CRLA Professional Development committee.

Presenter2 Name: David Caverly
Presenter2 Institution: Texas State University
Presenter2 Bio: Dr. Caverly received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1982, a Reading Specialist masters degree from Kent State University in 1974, and his Bachelor's in English Education from the University of Toledo in 1970.  He has been involved in developmental education for over 30 years teaching, reading and directing learning centers in a community college, two different four-year colleges, and six universities. He has written extensively in the field with over 80 journal articles, 13 books, 14 grants, and 180 conference presentations. Perhaps he is best known for his column TechTalk originally with Bill Broderick and more recently with Lucy MacDonald in the Journal of Developmental Education and his edited book with Rona Flippo published in 2000, the Handbook of College Reading and Study Strategy Research. Since 1989, he has been Professor of Education at Texas State University-San Marcos where he directs the developmental reading program and teaches reading, technology, and research classes in the undergraduate and graduate programs for both the Developmental Education Program and the Curriculum and Instruction department.

Presenter3 Name: Emily Payne
Presenter3 Institution:
Presenter3 Bio: