ABOUT THE CAD

ABOUT THE CAD

> Director's welcome
> About the CAD: Our history
> Meet the staff
> Spotlight on CAD

Welcome to the Center for Academic Development

The Center for Academic Development (CAD) is your learning center at National-Louis University (NLU). Along with our sister department, Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), we are committed to helping students get the most out of their learning experience and to supporting faculty in their teaching.

We are here to serve the needs of all students and faculty. We do this through a variety of services designed specifically to address students' needs – learning assistance and tutoring in-person and on-line; test preparation workshops; in-class presentations; workshops on a variety of topics; initial assessment of students' academic skills; plus various other forms of assistance, including accommodations for students who have special academic needs. I invite you to browse our Web site pages for all the details.

Also, check out the Resources section. To help students understand and successfully complete their

assignments, the Resources section contains a plethora of guidelines designed to address expectations of instructors.

These include effective writing, APA style, links to helpful resources, and other tips – all placed there to support you in your learning. Whether you are a student or a faculty member, I invite you to browse the pages often. As we work hard to grow this Web site, I am certain that you will discover something new and useful and interesting each time you visit.

Thank you for visiting. Please come again, and do not hesitate to contact me at JPiper@nl.edu.

—Jadwiga Piper, Director

The Center for Academic Development (CAD) is the learning center available to help all students in the University. Our goal is to help you take the fullest advantage of your academic experience at NLU and become independent learners. We also work closely with faculty to support them in their teaching. We offer tutoring and learning assistance, both online and face to face, as well as in-class presentations/workshops and test preparation. Visit us to learn how we can help you reach your academic goals.

Mission
The mission of the Center for Academic Development is to provide comprehensive academic support services which enable learners of all ages, ethno-linguistic backgrounds and levels of preparedness to reach their full potential.

In the beginning
The Center for Academic Development originated in the early 1980s as the Communications Skills Lab. As National-Louis University (then National College of Education) was attracting more non-native speakers of English and urban students, under the leadership of Ed Risinger the College applied for and received the Title III Grant to support academic needs of this new population. A full time director, Carol Eckermann, and part-time learning specialists were funded by the grant for one year. The grant was not renewed, but the work of the department was recognized as essential to the success of the College's students, and the College began to fund the Lab.

Communications Skills Lab
The Lab was originally housed in an alcove of the Chicago campus library, and it offered individual and small group tutoring in all subject areas; English as a Second Language Conversation groups; in-class presentations; assessment of math, reading, and writing skills. In addition, reading, writing, and mathematics workshops were offered to and required of students whose skills assessment results indicated the need.

CSL operation
By the late 1980s, the CSL lab moved into its own prominent suite on the Chicago campus, occupying a reception area, two classrooms, two tutoring rooms, and four offices. A CSL was now also in operation on the Evanston, Lombard, Florida, and Atlanta campuses. The increase in staffing followed. A full-time director, five full-time learning specialists, administrative assistant, part-time learning specialists, adjuncts, and up to 20 peer tutors were now serving hundreds of students per term.

New programs were also developing. An intensive program to support students with learning disabilities was housed in the Lab and run jointly by two full-time learning specialists. A grant-funded program was designed to help Latino mothers and was named the Latino Outreach Program.

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CSL becomes CAD
When the National College of Education became National-Louis University (NLU) in 1989, the department also changed its name to Center for Academic Development (CAD). As the not-for-credit workshops turned into for-credit courses, the learning specialists who taught them became University faculty. CAD as a learning center does not offer for credit courses, and a new department, Department of Developmental Studies (DVS) was created (now ACLE). All the coursework was now offered by ACLE. CAD and ACLE continue to have very close professional ties.

CAD staff
In 2005, the Center for Academic Development was housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, and it serves the undergraduate and graduate students in all three university colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Management and Business, and National College of Education.

The department is currently staffed by a full-time director and full-time coordinators on the Chicago, Lisle, North Shore, and Florida campuses and two part-time coordinators on the Wheeling campus. The Lisle coordinator serves the Elgin campus, as well. In addition, several learning specialists and peer tutors assist hundreds of students each year.

CAD activity
The work of the CAD continues to evolve as the needs of students and faculty change. The department now has a prominent Web site and does much of its work with students online. As the ACLE department is offering fewer developmental courses, the CAD is offering more developmental workshops specifically designed to meet the needs of students in particular programs. The department is also active in University-wide committees and task forces: University Assessment Council (UAC), Center for Online Learning (CoOL), Advising Task Force, and Orientation.

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