The Role of an Institutional Liaison

The role of each Institutional Liaison is complex and very meaningful for the SC CAP’s success. The Institutional Liaison will:

• Assist the Educational Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) by identifying appropriate courses and faculty to participate in the alignment review, as well as to facilitate continued information dissemination to participating faculty.
• Ensure that your institution’s goals and programs are appropriately represented in the overall findings concerning course alignment in South Carolina. The success of this project hinges upon statewide involvement and the ability of educational institutions to partner with local stakeholders.
• Facilitate the participation off—and communication with—other educational institutions at a high level.

The entire project is, of course, designed as a series of related activities for the purpose of improving college readiness and levels of success. The current phase of the project includes an analysis of the alignment between exit-level high school courses and entry-level college courses in English, mathematics, and science. During the course alignment review, the Institutional Liaison will assure that faculty members learn about and use an online tool to submit the necessary syllabi and to identify the necessary reference standards for assuring that students are academically prepared for the courses they will take.

We are pleased to begin the course alignment phase of this project. Below, we have outlined the specific steps, including timelines that you as an Institutional Liaison will be guiding at your institution during this critical phase of the SC CAP project.

Nominate Courses
Courses to be nominated
In order to complete the course alignment study, EPIC must have a representative sample of exit-level high school courses and entry-level college courses in English, mathematics, and science. Nominated courses at the postsecondary level must be entry-level courses that meet general education requirements and often serve as prerequisites for other courses in the subject area.

For postsecondary institutions, a faculty member who is currently teaching or has taught each of these courses in the past should be nominated to participate for each of the following (or comparable*) courses:

* Comparable courses are equivalent courses with the same content that require the same skills.

For high schools, a faculty member who is currently teaching or has taught each of these courses in the past should be nominated to participate for each of the following courses:

Submit Course Nominations
Institutional Liaisons will serve as the point of contact at each institution and are also responsible for coordinating the submission of course nominations. The process for collecting course nominations is the following:

• Institutional Liaisons contact department chairs, curriculum teams, or colleagues as appropriate to recommend nominations for the courses listed above.
• Institutional Liaisons collect course names, numbers, and instructor names and contact information to submit to EPIC using the online course nomination tool. Liaisons should refer to the letter sent to each with login instructions. For help logging in, please contact: Jennifer Forbes

Provide Institutional Support as Faculty Complete Online Course Submission
Faculty participation in the alignment review will include an online submission and review of course documents against college readiness reference standards. Institutional Liaisons may be asked to assist faculty members during the alignment review by:

• Answering basic project-related questions.
• Directing faculty or other colleagues to proper channels when further assistance is needed.

After Course Submissions and Nominations for Design Team members, Institutional Liaisons will be asked to:

1. Provide on-going communication within and between Institutions:

• Throughout the project, Institutional Liaisons will be contacted to disseminate information at their institutions regarding college readiness and the SC CAP project. Institutional Liaisons may also be asked to provide support during the pilot of paired courses if their institution is selected as a piloting institution. EPIC will provide additional information and materials as needed.

2. Support the ongoing process of development and use of Paired Courses:

• During the final phase of the SC CAP (2009–2010 school year), Institutional Liaisons will be asked to provide support and to encourage the use of paired courses at their respective institutions. EPIC will make available all paired course materials and supporting information and will assist the Institutional Liaisons in the dissemination process.

Letter to Institutional Liaisons

Confirms participation as an Institutional Liaison in the South Carolina Course Alignment Project (SC CAP). Describes the role of an institutional liaison and provides a timeline that Institutional Liaisons will be guiding at their institutions during phase one of the SC CAP.