SIG Contacts

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Special interest groups (SIGs) were developed to provide CRLA members with a means of networking throughout the year, not just during the conference. Each group reflects the current issues and interests of CRLA membership and maintains the flexibility, openness, and commitment to professionalism of the organization. CRLA members are encouraged to visit with Board members or with SIG coordinator, Sharon Taylor, regarding the formation of new SIGs that might reflect current issues related to CRLA. Membership in each SIG is $5, to be included with CRLA membership fees. General information regarding each SIG is listed below. For more specific information, contact the leader of each SIG or the SIG coordinator.

CRLA 16 SIGs available Listed below are the SIGs, contact information, and goals
Brain Compatible Teaching/Learning College Reading Developmental/Basic Writing English as a Second/Foreign Language Freshman Year Experience Graduate & Professional Student Success Learning & Study Strategies Learning Assistance Center Management	Learning Disabilities Mathematics Multicultural Issues Paired Courses Peer Mentoring Peer Tutoring Research and Evaluation Technology & Distance Learning

SIG Coordinator Sharon Taylor Western Wyoming Community College 2500 College Drive - 664A Rock Springs, WY 82901	(307) 382-1725 (w) (307) 382-1714 (fax) staylor@wwcc.wy.edu

Brain Compatible Teaching/Learning Charis Sawyer Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd. Overland Park, KS 66216	(913) 469-8500 x 3748 (w) csawyer@jccc.edu
To share research about learning processes, especially research related to how adults learn in an academic setting. The SIG publishes a newsletter that informs members about current research in reading theory and instruction, reading processes, adult literacy, problem solving, and cognitive models describing how adults learn and remember. It also serves as an important communications tool among SIG members about research ideas, events, and periodicals pertinent to the SIG and to CRLA professional interests. Activities include publishing two interactive newsletters each year and sponsoring SIG-related institutes, sessions, roundtables and a luncheon at the annual CRLA conference. Newsletter

College Reading Angela Henderson Fullerton College 321 E Chapman Ave Fullerton, CA 93832	714 992-7454 (w) ahenderson@fullcoll.edu
Stephanie Piazza Fullerton College 321 E Chapman Ave Fullerton, CA 93832	714 992-7568 (w) 949 218-1458 (fax) spiazza@fullcoll.edu
To provide opportunities for sharing ideas, information, and research about teaching reading at the college level. See our Great Instructional Strategies for specific ideas for instruction. Activities include exchange of information and sharing of ideas through SIG-sponsored conference activities and newsletter.

Developmental/Basic Writing Joan O'Leary Matanuska-Susitna College JKB 100 PO Box 2889 Palmer, AK 99645	(907) 745-9753 (w) (907) 746-9303 (fax) pfjdo@matsu.alaska.edu
To promote a more global understanding of the issues in developmental writing and to promote the advancement of more dynamic strategies for addressing the challenges. To engage members in discussion of pressing concerns in the field. To examine the multicultural nature of basic writing in graduate programs in rhetoric and composition. To respond to concerns of all SIG members as they are presented. Activities include a newsletter and the exchange and sharing of ideas through SIG-sponsored conference activities.

English as a Second/Foreign Language Julie Brogno Avila University 11901 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO 64145-1698 Leslie Connery Harford Community College 401 Thomas Run Road Bel Air, MD 21015	816-501-3770 (w) 816-501-2461 (fax) julie.brogno@avila.edu 410-836-4429 (w) 410-836-4397 (fax) lconnery@harford.edu
To exchange information on testing, textbooks, and techniques of teaching ESL/EFL. To evaluate and act as a clearing house for materials and resources. Activities include the publication of a SIG newsletter, serving as a clearinghouse for materials and resources, and the exchange and sharing of ideas through SIG-sponsored conference activities, including a business meeting.

Freshman Year Experience Roseann Torsiello, EdD Academic Support Center Berkeley College 44 Rifle Camp Road West Paterson NJ 07424	(973) 278-5400 ext 1342 (w) rtt@berkeleycollege.edu
The Freshman Year Experience SIG's purpose is to provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas about freshman year experience. Information on planning, implementing, and refining of programs is offered through data and facts on innovative and successful programs and concepts that assist first-year students in making successful adjustment to college programs, both in and out of the classroom, and increase their retention rates.

Graduate & Professional Student Success website: http://www.crla.net/grad_prof_student.htm
Melissa Thomas University of Texas - San Antonio One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX 78249	210 458-4691 (w) melissa.thomas@utsa.edu
Laura Heidel University of Houston LSS 210 Student Services, UH Houston, TX 77004	713 743-5439 (w) 713 743-5449 (fax) lheidel@uh.edu
This SIG has been formed to understand the learning barriers that graduate and professional students face to be successful in their programs and to assist the CRLA members who work with these students in delivering the highest quality of services to them. Some concerns that we will be exploring are: How to market to this population? What types of support do graduate and professional students need (and what are the differences and similarities among graduate versus professional students)? How can we deliver the services to them (various programmatic ideas)? How to transition a learning center to expand to the needs of these students? How we can help students transition out of college and into these graduate and professional programs successfully? and Conduct future research study on what graduate & professional students find difficult in regards to learning, reading, etc. If you are interested in becoming a member of this SIG, or have suggestions for our mission and objectives, please contact one of the co-chairs.

Learning & Study Strategies Diane Van Blerkom University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown Acad. Support Center Johnstown, PA 15904 Karen Agee University of Northern Iowa 007 Innovative Teaching & Tech Ctr Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0383	814-269-7107 (w) 814-269-7177 (fax) dvanbler@pitt.edu 319-273-6023 (w) 319-273-7578 (fax) karen.agee@uni.edu
To create opportunities for networking, professional growth, and sharing of materials, research, and practice related to college-level learning and study strategies. A SIG group meeting for all interested conference participants. Prospective members will complete a survey to help determine the future direction of the Learning and Study Strategies SIG. Participants will identify and prioritize topics and activities for the group to focus on, such as: Learning strategies resources, including recommended texts and websites. Professional development opportunities, such as the posting of related conferences and workshops. Summaries of current research. Sharing effective programming, courses, practices, and materials. Identifying and dealing with current issues and problems. Learning and Study Strategies Handbook Newsletter

Learning Assistance Center Management website: http://www.crla.net/sig_learning_center.htm http://lacmsig.pbwiki.com/
Penny Turrentine, Ph.D. Director, West Campus Learning Center Pima Community College 2202 West Anklam Road Tucson, AZ 85709-0001 Dorothy Briggs University of Arizona SALT Center Box 210136 Tucson, AZ 85721-0136	(520) 206-6796 (520) 206-3196 (w) pturrentine@pima.edu (520) 626-0405 (w) (520) 621-9448 (fax) dabriggs@email.arizona.edu
To provide a forum for the discussion of learning center goals, practices, supervision, and evaluation among learning assistance center managers and staff. Activities include a quarterly newsletter and the exchange of ideas through SIG-sponsored conference activities including a concurrent session and group meeting. Newsletter

Learning Disabilities Alda Noronha-Nimmo Miami-Dade College - North Campus 11380 NW 27th Ave Miami, FL 33167-3418	anoronha@mdc.edu
To share information, exchange ideas, and develop techniques to assist the student with a learning disability to acquire skills and knowledge for success in higher education. To share information on policies and procedures used in accommodating learning- disabled students created in accordance with the ADA law. Activities include publishing an interactive newsletter and a membership directory, sponsoring SIG-related conference activities, and encouraging participation in the CRLA conferences by offering related sessions. This SIG encourages members to form a network for formulating, creating, and sharing policies and procedures for accommodations. Please click here to go to the latest newsletter.

Mathematics website: http://www.science.txstate.edu/mathematics/CRLAMathSIG/
Joey Offer Texas State University Dept of Mathematics 601 University Drive San Marcos, Texas 78666-4616	512-245-3438 (w) jo21@txstate.edu
Selina Vasquez-Mireles Texas State University 601 University Drive MCS 578 San Marcos, TX 78666-4616	512-245-8019 (w) sv10@txstate.edu
To provide an opportunity for communication among those providing tutorial services in mathematics. To encourage presentation of papers at CRLA conference and participation in related conference activities. Activities include publishing a newsletter and a membership list and the exchange and sharing of ideas through SIG-sponsored conference activities, including sessions, a SIG luncheon, and a roundtable.

Multicultural Issues Reba Powers McNeese State University Box 92300 Lake Charles, LA 70609-0001	337-475-5429 (w) 337-475-5398 (fax) rpowers@mcneese.edu
To increase awareness of and to provide a means of sharing various multicultural issues. Activities include publishing a newsletter and a membership list, the exchange of information, and sharing of ideas through networking at the conference and through SIG-sponsored conference activities, such as a SIG luncheon, sessions, and a roundtable.

Paired Courses Susan Messina Solano Community College 4000 Suisun Valley Road Fairfield, CA 94534 co-leader position open	708-864-7000 x 293 (w) 708 527-7763 (fax) semessina@earthlink.net
To share ideas on the implementation of paired courses and suggestions for maximizing their benefits to students. The name Paired Courses refers to two courses linked together where one course is designed to supplement the other, i.e. pairing a reading class with a sociology class. Activities include sharing paired-course research studies being conducted on college campuses, as well as member-complied bibliographies on paired courses. The members are hoping to present a panel discussion on paired courses at the fall CRLA conference.

Peer Mentoring Anna Crockett Virginia Military Institute Miller Academic Ctr – 215 Carroll Hall Lexington, VA 24450	504 464-7769 (w) 504 464-7798 (fax) crockett@vmi.edu

Peer Tutoring Terri Massie-Burrell Towson University Academic Achievement Center 8000 York Road Towson, MD 21252	(410) 704-5588 (w) (410) 704-5618 (fax) tmassieburrell@towson.edu
Diane Eisenberg, Chapman University One University Drive DeMille Hall, Room 130 Orange, CA 92888	714-997-6850 (w) dpeisenberg@yahoo.com
To improve peer tutoring programs by providing information which will increase tutor recruitment, improve tutor training, improve tutor education, increase faculty involvement, improve tutor delivery systems, explore different types of tutoring programs, assist in setting up new tutoring programs, and keep members informed about the latest research concerning tutoring. Activities include publishing a SIG newsletter, The Tutor Exchange, coordinating institutes and/or sessions at the national conference, serving as a clearinghouse for tutoring ideas, and promoting the CRLA International Tutor Certification Program.

Research and Evaluation Idna Corbett West Chester University of PA 105 Lawrence Center West Chester, PA 19383	610 436-1062 (w) 610 436-2600 (fax) icorbett@wcupa.edu
To encourage CRLA members to become researchers, to aid in the development of a research base in Learning Assistance and Developmental education, and to disseminate information on current research and evaluation issues. Activities include sponsoring conference activities (e.g., SIG breakfast, concurrent session or institute, business meeting) and publishing a newsletter which include addresses for relevant websites, reviews of publications, information about research topics and methods, and/or communications among SIG members.

Technology & Distance Learning

Melissa Burgess
Sam Houston State University
TEC
Huntsville, TX 77341

(281) 788-1225 (w)

mlb024@shsu.edu

To share information, exchange news of methods, techniques, and best practices
focusing on the use of technology and distance learning. The wide range of
interests in this group include such topics as:

distance learning courses

hybrid classes

tutoring online

effective uses of technology in teaching

Learning Center Web Sites

Webletter

Activities include exchange of information and sharing of ideas through the use
of LRNASST for a general forum and a special egroup SIG forum at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crla/ . Other activities and projects include SIG sponsored conference activities and a professional development project at TIDE (Technology Institute for Developmental Educators).

We encourage your comments, email the webmaster, Corrine Johnson.
Last updated February 10, 2007.