Academic Advising
Landmark College’s Academic Advising Department supports students in becoming self-reflective, strategic learners. Academic Advisors provide instruction and support in areas of organization, study skills, personal and academic development, course registration and paths to graduation, and self-advocacy. Committed to supporting students in the transition to college, either directly from high school, or as transfer students, the core advising curriculum is especially designed to support students in developing their understanding of their learning strengths and challenges, and examining their approach to academics. A hallmark of the advising program is a focus on metacognition and self-advocacy.
Bachelor degree students in their junior and senior years work with Upper Division advisors who have credentials in related degree disciplines, and who are classroom faculty. Core Advisors collaborate with Upper Division Advisors to share information and insights that will support students’ smooth transition to a model that emphasizes increased student independence, expectations for intellectual engagement, and the application and integration of foundational skills learned in the core advising curriculum. The primary focus of Upper Division advising is to guide students in scholarship and intellectual inquiry in specific disciplines. All advisors support students in identifying appropriate resources, registering for courses, and understanding academic policies
Landmark College advising takes a student-centered, developmentally appropriate approach in working with students to become more self-determined and interdependent members of their living and learning community. Advisors guide students to problem solve and make decisions regarding educational and personal goals. Advisors meet with students regularly to establish goals, provide instruction, monitor and measure progress, and support students in their academic development.
Student Responsibilities in Advising
We offer a program designed to help students achieve their goals. In order to receive the full benefit of Landmark’s advising program, students need to:
- Regularly attend meetings;
- Actively engage in meetings;
- Honestly communicate with their advisors about any academic, adjustment, or related concerns which may be interfering with academic progress;
- Consistently arrive to advising sessions prepared, and ready to report progress on established goals
Parental Contact
Advisors are one of the primary sources of contact for the parents of students in our educational program. We view families as part of the student’s team and encourage students to regularly communicate progress and concerns to their parents or guardians. Parents will be provided with contact information for advisors at the beginning of each semester. Parents or guardians are welcome to contact advisors with questions regarding his or her student’s academic program and progress.
In accordance with the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, it is the policy of Landmark College to provide students with the right to limit the dissemination of their educational records.
Academic Intervention Team
The Academic Intervention Team is a cross-divisional team of administrators that tracks the academic progress of students within each semester. The goal of the team is to identify students where indications of failure in more than one academic course appear. Through ISIS data and communications with advisors and residential deans, students are identified and strategies are determined that may involve scheduling a meeting with the student. Goals of the meeting - which include the student, the advisor and the resident dean - are to establish the sources of the academic problems, strategize possible actions, and formalize a plan upon which the student has agreed to act. The plan is then communicated to families (should permissions exist), current instructors, the student, and the advisor. A follow-up meeting is possible should the student indicate the need. Current representation on the team includes the Advising department, the English department, the First-Year division, Residential Life, Student Conduct, Counseling, and Admissions.
Drake Center for Academic Support (DCAS)
The Drake Center for Academic Support (DCAS), located in the East Academic Building (EAB), provides services and resources that assist students in developing skills and strategies in order to become more confident, active, and independent learners. The DCAS provides support services, primarily in writing, reading, and study skills. Through one-on-one sessions with experienced Landmark College faculty, students receive support that complements classroom instruction. In addition, the DCAS provides students with opportunities to improve their ability to effectively utilize academic support services. In addition to the one-on-one sessions with DCAS faculty, students are also welcome to work independently in the DCAS to complete course assignments. Also, students can work independently and receive some monitoring or prompting from DCAS Faculty, Sunday through Thursday evenings, to help increase focus and work production. All attendance at support sessions are recorded in Landmark College’s student online information system.
Study Abroad
Housed in the Office of International Education, Landmark College’s Study Abroad Programs are designed with our students’ diverse learning profiles in mind and academic support is provided throughout our programs abroad. Courses are taught or supervised by our own faculty and credits earned while on Study Abroad can fulfill Landmark College requirements. Our Study Abroad Programs help students gain confidence and independence - both academically and personally - while exploring a culture other than their own. Courses are offered at a variety of levels within the College, but a typical program requires successful completion of at least one semester at the credit level. Some programs have specific course prerequisites. All participants in Study Abroad must be in “good standing” and approved by the Director of International Education. See the Landmark website for specifics of upcoming study abroad opportunities.
Coaching
One-on-One Coaching provides individual coaching support for students who are ready to work in a focused way on developing their executive function and problem-solving skills in an academic setting. Coaches work with students to help them gain greater control over their academic performance as students develop understanding of how they work. Through a process of experimentation and practice, students develop skills and strategies that enable them to become increasingly independent and effective in creating satisfying lives at college. Any student who is ready to commit time and energy to setting goals and engaging in a process of change may request One-on-One Coaching by emailing coaching@landmark.edu.
Educational Technology Services
Educational Technology is an integral part of Landmark College’s academic program. It provides the network tools that allow faculty, staff, and students to stay connected. It allows use of technology applications in the teaching and learning process. Landmark College may be unique in the depth to which we seek to integrate educational technology directly into our curriculum.
Our commitment to this integration starts with the recognition that facility with educational technology is a vital competency for academic study, professional careers, and lifelong learning. However, we go further, recognizing that for individuals who learn differently, tools and learning strategies that incorporate technology can be vital to helping them realize their potential.
The starting point for Landmark College’s commitment to educational technology is in our general education goals and learning outcomes that define specific objectives for student learning. These goals and outcomes are assigned to individual required courses, in order to assure that all students will learn, practice and succeed in mastering them. In addition, the curriculum and the advising system are designed in a way that is intended to help students learn about the ways in which technology may benefit their own particular learning profile.
Landmark College believes in strategically integrating technology into the learning process. Our student body and faculty members find technology provides rich opportunities for student-centered learning. These powerful tools support our students as they work to overcome a variety of learning challenges.
Educational Technology (Ed Tech)
Technology plays a critical role in teaching and learning at Landmark College. Education Techology is part of the department of Educational Technology and Online Programs (ETOP), a division of the School of Educational Design and Research.
Educational Technology offers the following services:
- Training on all educational technologies in use at Landmark College
- Consultation regarding their use
- Opportunities for training for individual and groups
- Assistive Technology support, research, and resources
- Training and support in the use of Canvas, Landmark College’s online course tool
- Opportunities to explore emerging technologies
- Assistance in using technology for curriculum building
Digital Text Services (DTS)
Digital Text Services in the Library provides scanning services and electronic copies of purchased textbooks and course materials. DTS:
- Provides more than 725 course texts formatted for Kurzweil
- Scans primary course texts (texts chosen by instructors)
- Grants student access to digital copies of course texts
- Helps students find digital copies of other books
- Helps faculty obtain clean hard copies for coursepacks
Landmark College Library
Located in the heart of the campus, the Library supports students’ intellectual and personal growth.
The Front Desk
This is the initial contact point for everyone who comes to the Library. Students may request research assistance, first-level help with computer software, circulation assistance, and general information at this location. As the sign above this desk invites, we want students to “Ask Us.” The staff member at the front desk also answers questions via live chat from the Library website.
Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and ASD Research Collection
The Library offers a comprehensive, in-depth, and growing collection of books, periodicals, and audiovisual material emphasizing learning differences, with a focus on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This extensive collection supports the faculty and staff of Landmark College in providing an exemplary educational experience for our students. As part of the Landmark College curriculum, students use the collection to learn more about their learning profiles and the evolving fields of learning disabilities, ADHD, and ASD.
Online Resources
The Library subscribes to dozens of online article databases that provide access to thousands of full-text journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and reference materials. Dozens of the Library’s print reference books are also available online, in addition to well over 150,000 e-books. A comprehensive academic streaming video collection allows 24/7 access to educational content from award-winning providers. Students can use all of these resources, as well as the Library’s subject-specific research guides, anywhere on campus through the Library’s website. By using their SharkNet password, students can access all of these resources from off campus as well.
Digital Course Texts
In collaboration with Information Technology Services, the Library provides access to a digital collection of the primary course texts used in Landmark College courses. By adhering to stringent rules to protect copyright, the Library can allow students who purchase or rent a print textbook to have additional access to a digital version of that textbook. This service allows students to use various text-to-speech technology tools to read and study textbooks, coursepacks, and other assigned text as needed.
General Collection
In addition to its specialized collections, the Library contains a growing collection of books, e-books, DVDs, audiobooks, audio CDs, periodicals, and other resources appropriate to Landmark’s liberal arts curriculum. These materials are on the second floor of the Library. They are purchased for a variety of reading levels to support students in their academic work and leisure time. Interlibrary loans are available for items not found in our collection. The general collection currently consists of approximately 30,000 print volumes, 3,000 audiovisual titles, and 120 print periodical titles.
Computers and Wireless Access
A computer lab classroom with 16 workstations is available in the basement of the Library. This lab is used for research instruction, class projects, special faculty and staff training, and as a space for work and study. This space is available to be reserved anytime during class periods, and for quiet study whenever it is not reserved. The entire Library is also set up for wireless access to the College’s network from students’ notebook computers. In addition, the Library has individual workstations with scanners, printers, and software for the purpose of incorporating text, audio, graphics, and animation into presentations, course materials, classroom activities, and projects.
Help Desk/Technology Support Services
The Help Desk, operated by Information Technology Services, is the primary contact point for all technology-related questions on campus. It is located on the second floor of the Library.
Information Literacy and Research Instruction
Faculty and librarians partner in helping students to develop information literacy through small and large-scale research projects, research instruction for classes, and individualized assistance to students. Information literacy, which is the “ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information” (Association of College and Research Libraries), is supported throughout the curriculum as a graduation goal.
Study Space
The air-conditioned Library is a popular place to read, study, and relax. Many tables for individual and small-group study are available throughout the Library. For relaxing there are comfortable chairs and a well-lit atrium area. Next to the basement computer lab is a group study room that includes a large flat-screen monitor to project a student’s computer screen for small-group collaboration. Another group study room on the first floor provides further opportunity for student collaboration. The second floor offers four individual study rooms for use by students individually or in pairs.
Transfer, Career and Internship Services
The staff of the Transfer, Career and Internship Services Office assists students in planning for transfer in the following ways:
- Advising students one-to-one regarding transfer requirements and completing the application process
- Providing information regarding transfer opportunities to other colleges and universities, including those with which Landmark College maintains a transfer partnership
- Offering advice regarding appropriate coursework to maximize transfer credit
- Providing advice regarding choice of major
For students planning on transferring from Landmark College, it is in their best interest to visit the Transfer, Career and Internship Services Office early on in their time here at the College. In most cases, it is advisable to earn an associate degree, though in some cases, students successfully transfer prior to earning the degree. At what point during one’s time here at Landmark transferring becomes appropriate varies by student. This makes utilizing the Transfer, Career and Internship Services Office even more important. Suggestions for making a successful transfer include:
- Working with an advisor in Transfer, Career and Internship Services regularly and not waiting until shortly before one’s planned departure from the College to begin the process.
- Choosing courses with an academic advisor that coincide with one’s academic interests and would be required in the first two years in a bachelor’s degree program.
- Becoming acquainted with the representatives that visit Landmark College during the school year and at the College Fair held on Family Weekend.
- Familiarizing oneself with the print materials available in the Transfer, Career and Internship Services Office. These include guides that cover preparing to transfer, completing applications, and making a successful transition. The Office also maintains a large collection of publications to assist in making career and major choices.
- Planning to visit prospective colleges over semester breaks. College visits are of utmost importance when selecting the next college. Make sure to set up appointments with critical staff, including transfer admissions, disability services, and any other service the students will want to utilize. If an interview is required for admission, this is a good time to take care of this as well.
Landmark maintains transfer partnerships with numerous colleges and universities across the country. For the most up-to-date listing, please visit the Transfer, Career and Internship Services webpage.
As students in the B.A. in Liberal Studies program progress toward graduation, the Transfer, Career and Internship Services department will offer services aimed to assist B.A. graduates in their efforts to find employment or gain acceptance to graduate programs.
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