Team for the Advancement of a Learning College - TALC

In the spring of 1996, Isothermal Community College made a commitment to become a learning-centered college. An early initiative was the empowerment of a committee on learning, which evolved into the Team for the Advancement of a Learning College (TALC) Leadership group.

Subsequently, taskforces were developed to respond to institutional barriers identified by faculty and staff. Since the implementation of the TALC learning initiative, taskforces have been added, merged, or dissolved as needed to accomplish our mission. During an assessment of TALC in 2010, additional taskforces were added and TALC became a part of the organizational structure. TALC was formed to seek input from the stakeholders of the college and continues to guide College efforts to keep learning at the forefront of our mission. The current structure of TALC includes the Leadership Team and taskforces.

TALC LEADERSHIP TEAM

The TALC Leadership Team supports the efforts of our Learning College journey by providing guidance for achieving Isothermal’s Learning College Principles and through the following functions:

• Supporting and providing leadership for taskforces
• Developing activities to support learning
• Evaluating the focus and purpose of TALC taskforces
• Collecting and assessing information to identify and address barriers to learning
• Mentoring and cultivating leadership skills to sustain the learning college by developing a leadership raining series
• Establishing goals as part of the strategic planning process
• Recognizing the definition of learners as students, employees, organization and community
• Administering TALC budget as allocated by the college administration

Membership of TALC Leadership includes a Chair and Vice Chair or co-chairs of TALC Leadership, chairs and vice-chairs or co-chairs from each TALC taskforce, a representative from College Council, the Director of Information Technology, the President, the Vice Presidents, the Past chair of TALC, and Director of Institutional Assessment and Accreditation. The Leadership Team meets on a bi-monthly basis. The Chair of TALC Leadership meets with the President at least once per semester for updates and reviews. In addition to functioning as the learning steering committee, the Leadership Team maintains a timeline of significant events in our learning journey.

TALC TASKFORCES

Descriptors of a Taskforce:

• All taskforces are associated with TALC
• Established in response to identified learning challenge
• Volunteer Membership
• Evaluated as part of Strategic Planning to re-examine focus and establish continued viability
• Establishes goals as part of strategic planning
• Has Chair and Vice Chair or Co-Chairs

STUDENT TALC TEAMS (3)

Student TALC Team was established to support our Learning College journey by providing guidance and support for student learning. This team includes the following taskforces: Academic Advising, Student Job Placement, and Student Retention. The focus will be on the following goals:

• Develop activities to support  student learning
• Continually seek to identify and address barriers to student learning
• Support Isothermal Community College Targets and Aims
• Evaluate the focus and purpose of student learning taskforces
• Establish goals as a part of strategic planning

Advising Taskforce

The function of the Academic Advising Taskforce is to review and support the academic advising system on our campus.  The functions will include:

• Determining areas where professional development is needed for advisors.
• Developing a training program and professional development opportunities for advisors that go beyond the mechanics of registration.
• Promoting “Developmental Advising” practices on campus.
• Working to ensure that advisors are informed about the advising system on our campus.
• Looking for ways to improve our advising system so that the needs of all parties involved will be effectively met.

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

Student Job Placement Taskforce

The function of the Student Job Placement Taskforce is to connect Isothermal Community College students who are pursuing employment and employers who need skilled applicants.  The functions will include:

• Develop resources for job placement
• Sustaining a functional webpage that connects students to job resources and employers to skilled applicants
• Consistent development of fundamental educational resources for faculty, staff, and students and community members

Student Retention Taskforce

The function of the Student Retention Taskforce is to assist in the social and academic acclimation of a student’s successful transition into campus life and culture. The functions will include:

• Bridging the gap from high school to college for students.
• Paring incoming first-year students with sophomore students, who act as mentors supporting students in education and motivation throughout the academic year.

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

EMPLOYEE TALC TEAM (3)

Employee TALC Team was established to support our Learning College journey by providing guidance and support for student learning. This team includes the following taskforces: Learning Strategies, Professional Development – Faculty, and Professional Development – Staff. The focus will be on the following goals:

• Develop activities to support employee learning
• Continually seek to identify and address barriers to employee learning
• Support Isothermal Community College Targets and Aims
• Evaluate the focus and purpose of employee learning taskforces
• Establish goals as a part of strategic planning

Professional Development – Faculty Taskforce

The function of Professional Development – Faculty Taskforce is to provide opportunities for growth and enrichment for faculty in support of Isothermal Community College’s mission to improve life through learning.  The functions will include:

• Conducting faculty needs assessment surveys
• Coordinating professional development programs
• Providing awareness of on campus and off campus professional development opportunities for faculty

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

Professional Development – Staff Taskforce

The function of Professional Development – Staff Taskforce is to provide opportunities for growth and enrichment for staff in support of Isothermal Community College’s mission to improve life through learning.  The functions will include:

• Conducting staff needs assessment surveys
• Coordinating professional development programs

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

Learning Strategies Taskforce

The function of Learning Strategies Taskforce is to enhance professional development opportunities for employees and promote global awareness. The functions will include:

• Providing SET training for faculty
• Providing activities focused on global awareness
• Developing and promoting professional development activities

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

COMMUNITY TALC TEAM (2)

Community TALC Team was established to support our Learning College journey by providing guidance and support for community learning. This team includes the following taskforces: Campus Life and Cultural Events. The focus will be on the following goals:

• Develop activities to support community learning
• Continually seek to identify and address barriers to community engagement
• Support Isothermal Community College Targets and Aims
• Evaluate the focus and purpose of community learning taskforces
• Establish goals as a part of strategic planning

Campus Life Taskforce

The function of Campus Life Taskforce is to explore activities and programs that cultivate a sense of community and promotes morale among Isothermal community while providing guidance and support for organizational learning. The functions will include:

• Foster an engaging and nurturing campus environmentAdvocating campus pride and beautification
• Encouraging and supporting campus wellness
• Collaborating with campus and community groups to sponsor educational enrichment activities

The Chair and Vice Chair (or Co Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

Cultural Events Taskforce

The function of Cultural Events Taskforce is to expose the campus and community to cultural diversity. The functions will include:

• Encourage community events at Isothermal Community College
• Bring speakers to campus which are open to the college community
• Seek out college community talents to initiate events
• Provide increased opportunities for community enrichment (social, cultural, and intellectual)

The Chair and Vice-Chair (or Co-Chairs) of the Taskforce will serve on the TALC Leadership Team.

Policy Number: 201-03-05

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