Colorado Christian University Catalog

Attention: This catalog is for archival purposes only. Please see www.ccu.edu/catalog for current information.

10: TEACHING & LEARNING CENTER

The mission of the TLC is to serve God and the University community through humility and an ethic of care with a professional will to uphold standards of excellence at all costs. Endeavoring to provide the finest academic services in Christian liberal arts higher education, the TLC experiences success one student at a time and one faculty member at a time.

The TLC assists students in achieving their full academic potential by specifically attending their individual needs.

The TLC provides the following student services:
Coaching in study skills and test taking
First Year Integration
Undeclared Advising
International Student Services
Tutoring Services
Students with Disabilities and Special Needs
Prior Learning Credit
CLEP, DANTES and COMPASS testing
Test proctoring for missed examinations
Advising Resources
eCompanion and eCourse Support
Online course evaluation support
Conditional Admission Status, Probation and Suspension

Coaching in Study Skills and Test Taking
The TLC will, upon request, work with students individually to help them develop note taking strategies, study skills and test taking strategies. Each student has different strengths, weaknesses and needs. The coaching environment provided by TLC staff enables students to try and adopt methods that work for their unique personality and learning style.

First Year Integration (FYI)
FYI is a required, three-credit course for first-year students. The FYI program is lead by a steering committee comprised of faculty and staff, and is administered through the TLC. The objectives of the FYI program are:

Helping students make the transition from high school to college;
Helping students make connections to the university community;
Spiritual development and the integration of faith and learning;
Critical thinking as it is displayed within specific disciplines;
All of this in the context of an academic theme of the students' choice.

Undeclared Majors
CCU students who have not yet declared a major will work with advisors who have been trained by TLC staff to explore their areas of greatest interest. Once a student declares a major, a permanent faculty advisor will be assigned.

Services for International Students
In collaboration with the Department of Undergraduate Admissions, the TLC is available to assist international students and U.S. citizens who have been living abroad with their adjustment to life in the United States. Students desiring a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status for American and Language Students (Form I-20) should contact the TLC for information.

Learning Assistance Program
TLC's learning assistants (tutors) are available to assist enrolled students in need of help in particular classes. Learning assistants are available for most general education classes and select upper-level courses. Learning assistants provide help with written work through the online writing lab. See the TLC for a list and schedule of learning assistants and areas of expertise.

Services for Students with Disabilities
It is the policy of CCU to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Acts, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state and local regulations regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Pursuant to these laws, no qualified individual with a disability shall unlawfully be denied access to or participation in services, programs or activities at the University. Students with a grievance should consult the appropriate section of this handbook for instructions regarding how to file a complaint.

In carrying out this policy, CCU recognizes that disabilities include mobility, sensory, health, psychological, and learning disabilities, and will attempt to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals, to the extent that it is readily achievable to do so. We are unable, however, to make accommodations that are unduly burdensome or that fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service or activity.

Students with disabilities seeking a Certificate of Accommodations should see the TLC prior to beginning their academic journey at CCU. Certificates of Accommodations are valid for one academic year, and must be renewed each year through the TLC.

It is the responsibility of the student to make his/her needs known in a timely manner to their professors and to provide the TLC staff with appropriate documentation.

Admission of Students with Disabilities
The University makes admissions decisions using criteria that do not consider an individual's disability. Thus, the University will not impose or apply admission or eligibility criteria that screen out or might screen out individuals based on their disability, unless such criteria are necessary for the provision of the program, service or activity being offered. Students with disabilities desiring to enroll in any program, service or activity at the University must be able to meet the minimum standards of the University. The University does not engage in any affirmative action programs for disabled students nor does it consider a student's disability in evaluating admissions criteria. It is, of course, within the student's discretion to inform the Admissions Office of a disability if they wish. If this choice is made, the University will not discriminate against the student on the basis of the disability and will make reasonable accommodations when necessary and appropriate.

Prior Learning Credit
Students in the AGS undergraduate program may pursue additional transfer credit through the Prior Learning Credit program. Credit may be awarded for skills developed through corporate training or other non-traditional educational experiences. Credit is awarded on the basis of careful evaluation of student portfolios that document content, quality and extent of the learning experience.

A fee is charged per credit for the evaluation of each portfolio whether credit is granted or not. Credit received is considered transfer credit and will count toward degree completion requirements. In assessing and accepting prior learning credit, the University adheres to guidelines and standards delineated by the Council for Adult Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the American Council of Education (ACE).

College-Level Examinations Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) Testing Policy
Colorado Christian University will accept credits as applicable in any program for students who score at or above established levels on many CLEP and DANTES tests. Cut-off scores for granting credit will be those scores recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). Credit received will be treated as transfer credit and will count toward graduation as applicable. Information about specific CLEP and DANTES tests, equivalent courses, and scores may be obtained from the Teaching and Learning Center.

COMPASS
All first-time freshman and transfer students with freshman standing who do not have a satisfactory ACT or SAT score must take English and mathematics placement exams to be admitted to the University. Education majors must obtain specified scores on the COMPASS examination to be fully admitted to the program.

Testing and Assessment Information
The TLC will, upon request by a professor, proctor missed class quizzes and examinations. To schedule an appointment for testing or to visit with a member of the TLC staff, please call 303.963.3265.

eCompanion and eCourse Support
Many courses are offered online as eCompanions or as eCourses. The TLC offers technical support for all online courses. Please contact Jan Bybee at 303-963-3385.

Online course evaluation support
All course evaluations are conducted online. The TLC offers technical support for online course evaluations. Please contact Jan Bybee at 303-963-3385.