Daytona State College has earned the Association of Florida Colleges 2011 Learning Resources Commission Exemplary Practice Award for learning support services.
The award is based on Daytona State’s “Under One Roof” model, which links its library, computing commons, a branch of its Academic Support Center, College Writing Center, online program support and Faculty Innovation Center within two adjoined buildings on the Daytona Beach Campus – Education Hall and the Karl Learning Resources Center. In addition to merging the physical locations of these student service areas, the college also employs strategies such as cross employment of student workers, cross training of support staff, creation of virtual blogs and FAQs, and resource sharing to ensure that students, staff and faculty can take full advantage of each department’s close proximity .
The model of creating such “learning commons” is a trend that is catching on at institutions across the country because of its potential to help improve student retention. The Daytona State model gained attention this past summer when library and learning support managers presented at the Florida Library Association’s 2011 Conference.
Chair of Library Services Mercedes Clement, and Learning Specialists Diane Holmes Curtice and Patrick Love will accept the award and present during educational sessions at AFC’s annual conference Oct. 26-28 in Naples, Florida.
The School of Education reports that 90 percent of its recent BS in Education graduates have been placed in teaching positions throughout Florida.
Program Chair Les Potter said, “We are getting calls nearly every day asking for more of our graduates. Yes, there are good K-12 teaching jobs available.”
Potter said students have been placed in 28 different public, private and charter K-12 schools encompassing six school districts (Volusia, Flagler, Seminole, St. Johns, Lake and Lee counties).
