Learning Resource Center, LRC
The Learning Resource Center provides individual and group sessions for subject-based tutoring, academic skill development, and peer academic coaching and support. IRA funding exclusively funds tutors’ and student assistants’ salaries and continues to assist critical academic support services for student success. While the IRA funding does not cover the full year’s expenses for tutors’ and student assistants’ salaries, it does make an enormous impact in the contribution toward LRC services, offered in a hybrid modality for 57 operational hours per week, with operational hours seven days a week for each semester and for summer sessions.
According to Institutional Research, students who visit the LRC enjoy higher pass rates and lower DFW rates than students enrolled in the same courses who do not visit the LRC. Additionally, students who visit the LRC report improved conceptual understanding of course content, better preparation for exams and course success, and an increased sense of belonging and community. In its mission to meet students where they are at, the LRC continues to utilize an Embedded Peer Educator model and provide academic success services for the majority of non-composition disciplines at CSUCI.
Student Research, SR
Student research and creative activities are recognized high-impact teaching practices demonstrated to improve student retention and shorten the time to graduation. Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) funds provide CI Student Research financial assistance to help students engage in research and creative activities, primarily through attending research conferences. The benefits of student research are multiple.
CI students
- Gain hands-on experience presenting their work
- Network with members of their professional communities
- Learn from peers who are conducting similar research
- Increase awareness of professional opportunities in their fields
- Foster meaningful relationship with CI faculty mentors
These experiences increase the competitiveness of our students at the next stage of their careers and give students valuable information for determining what that next step should be. As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), support of student research also assists our efforts to diversify the academic pipeline.
Writing Multiliteracy Center, WMC
The Writing & Multiliteracy Center uses funds from the Instructionally Related Activities grant to provide a range of services and activities that enhance the instruction and learning of writing and communication skills that are essential for student success at CI and beyond.
- Accessible Center Tutoring: Majority of the funds pay for 1,104 hours of in-person, virtual, and asynchronous writing tutoring for undergraduate and graduate students every semester: these hours include evenings and weekends, allowing for access with a live tutor seven days a week.
- Embedded Writing Tutoring: The IRA grant also provides embedded tutors for writing and communication intensive courses that include first-year Composition (English). GWAR courses, and capstone courses across disciplines. We’ve served courses including Business, Health Science, Psychology, History, Special Education, Chicano Studies, Sociology, Communication, Biology, Marketing, Anthropology, ESRM, Computer Science, Political Science, and English.
- Co-Curricular Activities: In addition, the IRA grant allows for WMC tutors to lead activities that expand the culture of writing and communication on campus such as writing boot camps, review sessions, and (students’ favorite) open mics.