Both centers have experienced a consistent 12-13% increase in student usage over the past 3 academic year cycles, followed by a spike in increase (currently 24%) this current academic year.  The addition of Chrome Books to the centers will enable Academic Support to better enhance services to meet student need (and demand), as well as standardize support services in general.  The addition of technology use to all tutoring sessions will create the opportunity for the following improvements:

1) In-session access to TutorTrac to provide detailed tutor notes for each tutoring session.  This will create a stronger sense of oversight and quality for each session as tutors and students provide details about what was covered in-session (which would be accessible to faculty as well, creating better transparency into tutoring support to course learning). 

2) The ability to provide support for STEM learning and technical literacy in both centers at scale.  

3) The ability to provide access for distant learning students to on-campus support (via Zoom tutoring), standardizing the student experience for online learners to the level of on-campus learners. 

Currently each center accommodates an average of 13 scheduled sessions during peak usage hours.  The ability to more effectively support online tutoring on-premises would no doubt contribute to our ongoing increase in usage.  As a result, we are requesting the purchase of 13 Chrome Books for each center, for a total of 26 Chrome Books for Academic Support ($200 ea.) for a one-time cost of $5,200.  

Critical Information, Notes, Justification, Rationale *

·         Modeling support search during instruction for hands on learning.
Library instruction supported by hands on modeling of searching can improve student learning. This initiative offers Newburgh campus librarians the option to bring library instruction to the faculty classroom in an efficient manner. The Chromebooks start fast and students can be ready in minutes. Librarians will be modeling online search and evaluating of sources which is the specific use of a Chromebook.

·         Ability to provide customized library instruction service to faculty and students.
Chromebooks offer librarians to visit classes more frequently that supports scaffolded library instruction. The desktops can be customized with library links and apps for specific classes. Faculty can add library instruction options to their Blackboard class shells.

·         Flexibility in scheduling computer rooms in Newburgh campus.
Newburgh computer labs are often unavailable in the timeframe of scheduling library instruction by faculty. Librarians struggle to schedule computer lab time that is convenient to the class’s schedule. Librarians will be able to visit classes with the tools they need to provide library instruction. This will make library instruction on the Newburgh campus more effective. With the Chromebook option librarians will be better able to serve students at the time of need.

·         Additional library instruction support for drop in sessions in the library and other places.
Student success hours are being promoted across the Newburgh campus. Librarians will be able to offer drop in sessions for small groups in the library’s student study rooms or in other locations on the campus.

Department Goals

Goal 2

Provide an effective program of Library Instruction where students will learn the methods and processes necessary to effectively carry out research for scholarly purposes and the pursuit of life-long learning.

Goal 3

Provide access to a full-range of information materials and resources.