ASUB learning center director published

BEEBE — The National College Learning Center Association published a special fall 2020 issue of its peer-reviewed journal, The Learning Assistance Review, in September. Learning center leaders and professionals from every corner of the United States contributed to this vital collection of essays of higher education’s response to the coronavirus.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 crisis affected higher education and changed how learning centers operated, forcing leaders to develop new ways to reach students and support their college communities. The coronavirus continued to challenge them during the summer and fall semesters. Rising to the Challenge: Navigating COVID-19 as Higher Education Learning Center Leaders shares the stories of how 48 learning centers addressed the fluid situation to serve their students.

Arkansas State University-Beebe’s Catherine Burton, director of the college’s Advising and Learning Centers, contributed a chapter titled “Moving Forward Together,” which detailed the challenges and changes required in thought, planning, scheduling and executing community-college curriculum in the COVID-19-driven online delivery methods.

Burton has been a member of the NCLCA for several years and said she was excited to contribute ASU-Beebe information and be included in a national publication.

“I received the open invitation from the editor and was excited at the opportunity to contribute our information to a special project like this,” Burton said. “This is the first time I have submitted anything, but it is a possibility that the ASU-Beebe team will continue to submit to the Learning Assistance Review in the future.”

The National College Learning Center Association is a community that works and supports learning-center leaders around the world. Focusing on the leadership of learning centers in higher education, the NCLCA and the journal are now in their 25th year.

Burton noted that the Learning Assistance Review is helpful for smaller colleges like ASU-Beebe, in that the journal enables organizations across the nation to share guidance, best practices and program examples from other colleges.

The special issue focusing on COVID-19 is free to members of NCLCA and is available to the public on Amazon for $64.95. For more information, visit nclca.wildapricot.org.