President's Report - Wentworth Institute of Technology

3 CENTER FOR TEACHING & LEARNING
AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Center for Teaching & Learning
Since its opening in October 2006, the Center for Teaching &
Learning (CTL) has made significant progress with both students
and faculty, mainly due to successful efforts to increase the
Center’s offerings and visibility across campus. This growth
was accomplished by collaborating with academic departments;
implementing an integrated communications plan that involved
internal and external website upgrades; using LConnect and
email communications; printing advertisements in the student
newspaper - The Leopard Print; showing ads on the television
in the Beatty Hall lobby; displaying posters around campus; and
distributing flyers and brochures to students.
Karen Britton, director of the CTL, is exploring ways to make the
Center more accessible and inviting to all students. Student
assistance is provided through personal tutoring and study
sessions, faculty and professional tutorials, and computer-based
tutorials. Since fall 2006, subjects in which tutoring is offered
have increased from 15 to over 80, with an increase in the total
number of tutoring hours jumping from 450 to over 900. In
order to keep up with the increased demand for its services,
the CTL has increased the number of tutors, and in June 2008,
Devon Sprague was hired as the full-time assistant director
and writing tutor.
Britton is in constant communication with students on academic
probation, offering a Probation Workshop and information on
satisfactory academic progress. Workshops on graduate school
and reading improvement are also offered each semester. In
addition, the Center hosts an Open House for new international
students every fall.
Over time, the Center has also become a greater resource for
faculty, offering support through organized lectures, roundtable
discussions, workshops, and conferences on enhancing teaching
and learning. During the CTL’s first year, several roundtable
discussions were held on topics including Plagiarism, Laptops
and Technology in the Classroom, WebCT, and Advising.
Continuing Education at Wentworth
Dr. Joan Dolamore, dean of lifelong learning, joined Wentworth in
2007 and has already begun to revitalize the Division of Professional
and Continuing Studies (DPCS) by enhancing existing course
offerings and introducing new programs that serve the varied
needs of individual students and corporate partners. “The
importance of continuous learning cannot be underestimated,”
said Dolamore. “It is often the critical component in a life full
of personal and professional satisfaction and achievement.”
Dolamore’s broad strategy for growing and strengthening the DPCS
ranges from a rebranding effort including the design and
development of new course materials and a website redesign, to
ambitious efforts to increase alumni outreach and develop new ways
to meet diverse workforce training needs. “Our alumni need to know
that the best place to update their skills, education, and training is
right here at Wentworth; our programs are designed to complement
their undergraduate degree education,” said Dolamore.
“We are implementing these changes with the goal of becoming
increasingly nimble and flexible in delivering our offerings to
both geographically distant learners and local and national
corporations,” explained Dolamore.
Workforce training programs are delivered on campus or on-site
and are customized to meet the specific needs of the organization.
Recently, the DPCS has conducted an Introduction to Construction
Management certificate program at the Gould Education Institute in
Burlington, MA, and is in the process of delivering a Certificate in
Managing Construction Projects to the Joint Apprenticeship &
Training Committee of the IBEW Local 103. In addition, the
DPCS contracted with the local Carpenter’s Union to deliver an
on-site Associate Degree in Building and Construction Management
to their apprentice members; and executed an agreement with
the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
to provide their members a reduced rate on course fees. Initiatives
such as these will increase both the number and type of students
served by the DPCS and revenue generated by the division.
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