Resources
CFLAT is here to help provide resources for instructors.
Oregon Tech's Library subscribes to The Teaching Professor. If you would like to sign up for monthly notices regarding release of The Teaching Professor, please e-mail cflat@oit.edu.
Faculty Professional Development
23 Practical Strategies to Help Faculty Thrive presented on 1-10-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin. This resource is available for check out from CFLAT if you are unable to attend the presentation date.
This following resources are available by secure link. Please visit the CCT MyOIT page for the link and accompanying documents.
Identifying Best Practices in College Teaching: Designing Effective Rubrics presented on 1-24-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
Creating Tests that Assess Higher Order Thinking Skills presented on 1-31-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
Best Practices in College Teaching: Creating an Active Learning Environment presented on 2-7-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
Teach Students How to Learn: Metacognition is the Key! presented on 2-14-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
A New Strategy in Learning Community Development: How Collaboration and Integration Save Time and Improve Learning presented on 2-21-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
Supplemental Instruction: Improving Student Engagement, Performance and Course Completion presented on 2-28-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. Scott.
The 10 Traits of Great Teachers: How to Tap into Student Motivation and Maximize Retention presented on 3-7-11 at 3:30pm in Mt. McLoughlin.
Tutoring Services
Free peer tutoring is administered by the Center for Learning and Teaching (CFLAT). Tutors are hired primarily for mathematics and writing, but many of these students have experience and knowledge in various other disciplines, especially in the engineering technologies, and often provide assistance with other subjects. Tutoring is routinely scheduled for Math, Writing, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, Computers, Speech, Accounting, Physics, and Chemistry. If the CFLAT Director determines a large demand for help in a specific course for which none of the regular tutors is qualified, a special tutor may be hired to work in a group situation, budget permitting. CFLAT may also be able to provide students with alternate resources and assistance. Additionally, student assistants provide one-on-one assistance to students and also teach mini computer workshops.
Math Center
OIT’s Math Center offers free tutorial services for students who wish to improve their math skills. The center is staffed by several upper-division peer tutors who work closely with the Math Department faculty to ensure quality service.
Students in all classes which require math skills can benefit by visiting the Math Center. The staff can help students with math problem solving and success strategies. Tutoring is provided on a one-to-one basis as well as in small groups. Tutors will not complete homework for students or help students with ‘take-home’ exams. Tutoring schedules are posted every term in CFLAT and online.
Writing Center
OIT’s Writing Center, located in CFLAT, offers free tutorial services for students who wish to improve their writing skills. The center is staffed by Communication Department faculty and several upper-division student tutors.
Students in all classes which require written materials can benefit by visiting the Writing Center. Specifically, the staff can help students with the following:
- Creating strategies for developing/organizing papers.
- Developing critical reading skills.
- Improving computer skills.
- Improving writing style.
- Learning to proofread, revise, and correct mistakes.
- Learning ways to generate ideas for writing papers.
- Refining research, documentation, and library skills.
Writing Center staff will also provide individual help for problems in mechanics and grammar, review graded papers to help students understand errors and learn how to correct them, and offer general suggestions for improving written communication skills.
The center will not, however, perform the following:
- Edit papers for students.
- Grade a paper.
- Guarantee a “quick fix” for writing problems.
- Take responsibility for finding all mistakes in a paper.
- Write papers for students.
Tutoring schedules are posted every term in CFLAT and online.
Testing Services
CFLAT functions as the University Testing Center by providing distance testing for individuals completing coursework for other institutions, ACT Testing, Millers Analogy Testing, Accuplacer Placement Testing (which 85 – 95% of Oregon Tech students must complete), and other regional and national testing on an as-needed basis as approved by the Director. CFLAT provides test proctoring for all faculty and students. Faculty members provide the testing parameters and CFLAT proctors exams for students in accordance with faculty wishes as well as with strict testing security and university academic integrity policies. Additionally, CFLAT is recommended for material review of sensitive items and for student retrieval of completed and graded work in accordance with FERPA regulations.
Other Services
Self-help via videotapes and computer software is available in CFLAT. Students may choose from a variety of videos to review or learn new material. Faculty may also check out materials for class use.
The CFLAT Faculty Liaison coordinates September Institute for new faculty as well as Advisor Training for new and experienced advisors. CFLAT is here to support faculty and students in a variety of ways. Please contact CFLAT for more information about how we can partner and support faculty activities.
Student Success
CFLAT administers the CAR (CFLAT Alert Report) Early Warning System for at-risk students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in this program to identify and intervene with students experiencing academic difficulty. Faculty and advisors with CAR students in their classes may receive mid-term progress report requests or other information requests to assist CFLAT in supporting student success.
CFLAT is also home to many of the University’s student success initiatives including: ROAD (Registration, Opportunity, and Discovery) New Student Registration, ACAD (Academic Success Classes), Learning Communities, Supplemental Instruction, Provision of Services for Students with Disabilities, Success Workshops for Students, and much more! Faculty are encouraged to contact CFLAT for more information about partnering for student success or with any other questions they may have.
Tech Opportunities Program
The Tech Opportunities Program (TOP) is a federally funded (Student Support Services) academic program designed to assist highly motivated students who have academic need and who are also low-income, first generation, or students with disabilities. TOP staff works closely with participating students to comprehensively assess academic and financial needs and to develop personalized plans for university success. Participants may be eligible for a variety of academic support services, including group and/or individual tutoring and related academic support; mentoring; help networking with other students; university success workshops and classes; additional academic advising; and limited financial assistance.
Faculty with TOP students in their classes will receive mid-term progress report requests from the TOP office. Faculty are encouraged to contact TOP with any questions about the program or about any individual student concerns.
Disability Services
Students with disabilities have a legal right to have their needs accommodated. Faculty should be especially responsive to these students' requests for assistance. Students with disabilities requesting special assistance should be referred to the Director of Disability Services for a needs assessment. The student must provide appropriate documentation of the disability from a qualified professional appropriate to the student's impairment. Students may request accommodations at any time. However, they are encouraged to notify faculty and staff of disability-related needs as soon as possible. Following the needs assessment, students requiring accommodations receive letters of authorization (“passports”). Students should arrange to present their letters to faculty and to discuss their accommodation needs. When discussing needs with a student, faculty should:
- Make a photocopy of the authorization letter.
- Sign and date this copy with the student.
- Reach agreement with the student about how accommodations will be provided.
- Students will be responsible for returning the signed copy of the authorization letter to the Disability Services Office.
- Faculty may also want to keep copies for their files.
Accommodations can vary from physical aids, such as assistance for hearing or sight impairment or placement of a wheelchair in a classroom, to providing quiet testing places, oral versions of tests, or additional time to complete tests. All accommodations are confidential matters. Students may elect to forego an accommodation in a particular class, but faculty are not obligated to repeat examinations that a disabled student has taken without the approved accommodation. Accommodations for a particular student may vary from course to course. The Disability Services Director is available to answer faculty questions about how to best meet the needs of a student with a disability. Questions about specific services, such as note taking or reader services should be directed to Center for Learning and Teaching (CFLAT). Inquiries and discussions, individually or as a department, are welcome.