Event Recap
Building a Collective Vision: What We Heard
· Online · MICLCA founding event
MICLCA's first gathering brought learning center professionals from across Michigan together on Zoom. Members and non-members met in four small breakout groups and talked through the same four questions: what events they want from MICLCA, what the first conference should include, how MICLCA can attract members, and how they would like to be involved. Thanks to Angela Zanardelli, Sarah Clark, Holly Christopher, and Rachel Love for leading the groups and taking notes.
Themes across the groups
These are the topics that came up in more than one group. The right-hand column shows which groups raised each one.
| Theme | What we heard | Groups |
|---|---|---|
| Getting students in the door | Every group asked how to get students to use tutoring, SI, study groups, and study skills sessions, especially since the pandemic. People want to hear what is working at other schools, including how to market services now that students also turn to AI. | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Learning from each other | People want to see how other centers run: their models, tools, and pain points. Site visits, center tours (in person or virtual), and short “here is what we do” talks came up again and again. | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Low-cost, easy-to-join events | Most professional development budgets are small. Groups liked virtual options such as webinars, lunch and learns, and informal lunch chats, plus some in-person regional events around the state. | 2, 3, 4 |
| Supporting peer educators | Tutor training and certification, professional development for peer leaders, and events where student staff can meet students from other schools. | 1, 2, 4 |
| Leading a center on a tight budget | Budget strategies and grants, working with administrators, student pay (including the minimum wage increase in January), and leadership and mentoring for staff at every career stage. | 2, 3, 4 |
| AI, with a learning center focus | Interest is strong, but people want AI content built for learning support: helping students use AI thoughtfully, training our staff, and marketing our services in an AI world. One group noted there is already plenty of general AI content out there. | 1, 3, 4 |
| Sharing resources and data | A shared place for training materials, budget examples, and assessment tools, plus interest in pooling data across Michigan centers. | 1, 2 |
Ideas that stood out
Specific, doable ideas from the groups. These are suggestions to explore, not commitments yet.
- Center spotlight lunches. Two centers each take a few minutes to share what they do, what works, their pain points, and where they want to grow. Then the group talks.
- A member resource library. A searchable collection on the MICLCA website with training materials, budget examples, assessment tools, and more.
- A statewide picture of learning centers. Start with a survey of who is doing what. Later, pool student outcome data, share assessment examples, and possibly write up the results together.
- Center tours, in person or virtual. See other learning spaces and hear how they work. Tours could also be part of the conference.
- Regional meetups. Small in-person networking events in different parts of the state, perhaps twice a year.
- Events for peer educators. Professional development and networking for tutors, SI leaders, and other student staff, who enjoy talking with peers from other schools.
- A lightning round to open the conference. Presenters each give a quick preview of their session early in the day so people can decide where to go.
- Networking by institution type. Tables for community colleges, four-year liberal arts schools, and so on, so people can find others facing the same issues.
- Group memberships. A way for a center to join as a team so more staff can take part on a small budget.
- A volunteer opportunity board. A list of ways to help so members can find a role that fits their time.
What comes next
- Beyond the Content, a members-only webinar on peer educator training, Friday, February 5, 2027.
- The inaugural annual conference at Wayne State University on May 17, 2027, including a learning center visit, roundtables by institution type, and lightning talks.
- Committee service: the Professional Development and Nomination committees are recruiting. Join MICLCA to take part.