Hillsborough Community College provides a comprehensive array of academic support services that are appropriate to meet the needs of our faculty and students. 

A. Faculty Academic Support Services

Academic Support for faculty at Hillsborough Community College is provided  through  numerous methods such as in-service meetings, conference travel, Sabbatical  Leave, financial reimbursement for acquiring additional education, specific course support for new faculty focused on enhancement of teaching and learning, and the professional development center (IT3) at HCC.  Please also refer to Comprehensive Standard 3.7.3 Faculty: Professional Development .

A.2. Faculty Development Committee

Hillsborough Community College's Faculty Development Committee is co-chaired by HCC faculty members and administrators.  The Committee meets and provides suggestions for faculty in-service programs.  Recently, the faculty co-chair collaborated with the Committee to develop a website with numerous online tools and links.

A.3. Professional Development Services (IT3)

Hillsborough Community College's Faculty Development Resource Center, located at Dale Mabry campus, was established using Congressional funds and College resources as a well equipped training center where HCC employees and K-12 educators are encouraged to explore instructional technology resources. IT3 enables faculty and staff to check-out laptops, data projectors, cameras, and other instructional technology equipment, utilize the library for research, draw upon the expertise of IT3 staff for training or assistance with special projects and course/curriculum design, and avail themselves of the opportunity to work with numerous software applications. Additionally, IT3 offers instruction through weekly workshops or individual appointments.

IT3/PDS continuously works to provide and improve services to HCC employees.  They provide the following services:

• Develop workshops for instruction in Web Advisor and Datatel applications;
• Continue to provide training to increase faculty proficiency in effective technology application and integration in order to create new opportunities for student learning and achievement
• Offer instruction in various areas of professional development to improve faculty and staff capacity to adopt new technologies and methods and increased innovation in development of strategies, services, and products
• Develop additional web-based delivery of instruction/workshops, considering the time constraints and educational needs of working professionals

A.4. Faculty In-Service Programs

In-services and faculty development programs support HCC's goals to promote institutional learning through excellence in teaching and to provide the resources and skills necessary for faculty members to function effectively.  The planning and implementation of the full-time faculty in-service is supported through HCC's Division of Education and Student Development. All faculty College-wide participate in the Fall and Spring in-service programs.  Faculty attend or present at various other sessions during the academic year.

Throughout the academic year, workshops are provided to focus on issues raised by faculty through the evaluations of in-service programs and from input from committees and initiative groups.  As part of the in-service and professional development offerings for academic year 2003-2004, the director secured two nationally-known consultants: Cathryn Berger-Kaye gave presentations on Service Learning, and Peggy Maki gave presentations on developing Student Learning Outcomes.  In academic year 2004-05, Sue Hintz conducted a workshop on Learning Communities: Preparing the Underprepared Student.  In academic year 2005-2006, Don Fraser provided a seminar on Best Practices in Student Motivation.  Furthermore, development opportunities were provided at HCC's All College Day and through sponsored travel (e.g., Noel Levitz Retention Conference, attended by representatives of the HCC Student Success and Retention Committee).

A.5. Conference Travel

Hillsborough Community College faculty members are sponsored to attend and present at several conferences during the year through the use of Staff and Program Development funds and departmental travel funds.

A.6. Tuition Reimbursement

Each full-time HCC faculty member who successfully completes university courses will be awarded an academic stipend of $150 per semester hour for undergraduate courses and $200 per semester hour for graduate courses, not to exceed six semester hours per academic term.  The cost of approved applications may not exceed College expenditure of $30,000 per academic year.  HCC faculty members are encouraged to attend approved seminars or workshops that are required for certification within faculty members' disciplines or are within area in which the College desires additional certification/training.

In keeping with the institutional goals listed above, the College paid $76,400 toward professional enhancement activities for faculty members who took courses during the 2002-2005 academic years.

A.7. Special Development focused on Teaching and Learning

Tenured HCC faculty members and their supervising deans discuss and establish development goals for the following academic year.  Each faculty member must participate in a minimum of ten (10) contact hours of faculty development activities each year. 

Non-tenured faculty members, upon hire, must attend ten hours of College Pre-Employment orientation.  Furthermore, each year, they must complete approximately 45 contact hours of faculty development in the following manner:

• Taking and completing the following graduate course (or modular units of them): “The Community College in American Higher Education” and “Seminar in College Teaching” or, if the course names are changed, courses with a similar concept.  Each completed course credit hour is equivalent to 15 faculty development hours.  Tuition and books will be paid for by the College.
• If the above graduate courses have been completed, HCC's Director of Parallel Programs can approve substitute offering of other graduate-level education course work.
• In addition to taking the required courses, participating in the HCC Faculty Development Program for a minimum of ten hours each year for a total minimum of 30 development hours during the first three years of employment.

Additionally, non-tenured faculty members and their supervising deans will determine, by joint effort, the annual goals of non-tenured faculty members [ Agreement between Hillsborough Community College and the Faculty United Services Association (FUSA contract)].

Faculty tenure course work supports HCC's goal of promoting learning through excellence in teaching and providing the resources and skills necessary for faculty to function effectively.  During the 2002-2005 academic years, HCC paid $72,656.63 toward course tuition and books/supplies for tenure purposes.

B. Student Academic Support Services

Hillsborough Community College's Academic Support Services are available in centers on each of the four campuses and at the MacDill Air Force Base Educational Center, making them easily accessible to HCC students.  HCC provides traditional one-on-one peer tutoring, writing centers, and a variety of academic/computer laboratories.  Electronic tutorial services are also provided to assist HCC students from virtually any location. Students are informed about Academic Support Services during New Student Orientation; both the HCC Catalog and the Student Handbook include information about the services available.  Additionally, faculty members, Academic Advisors and other HCC staff members encourage students to access these services.

Data indicates that student use of HCC's Academic Support Services has grown continually over the past three years at all campuses.   The variety of Academic Support Services provided, the availability of services to all students, and the increase in student usage demonstrate the appropriateness and effectiveness of HCC’s Academic Support Services.    The following is a brief description of the services that are currently available to HCC students.

B.1. Campus Tutorial Centers/Success Centers

Each of HCC's four campuses provides peer tutoring services that are available to all students during regular college business hours.  Peer tutors provide academic assistance to students across a broad spectrum of academic subjects, including mathematics, science, English, economics, and accounting.  Peer tutors are trained by and work under the supervision of professional staff members of the College.  HCC's four campus-based tutorial centers served 17,772 students during the 2003-2004 academic year.

B.2. SmarThinking

Hillsborough Community College offers SmarThinking, an online tutorial service, primarily for students who are enrolled in Distance Learning courses; however, the service is also available to all students who prefer an alternative to on-campus assistance.   SmarThinking is available 24 hours a day, allowing students to work synchronously, one-on-one with professional tutors via the Web, in order to receive assistance with a variety of College courses, including mathematics, science, English, history, economics, humanities, and more. HCC students use of SmarThinking has doubled in the past year. 

B.3. Writing Centers

In addition to tutorial services, Writing Centers designed specifically to help students improve their writing skills and meet College and State writing requirements are available at three HCC campuses. Students from all HCC campuses, however, are able to take advantage of the assistance of the Writing Centers.  Like tutorial services, HCC's Writing Centers have experienced steady growth in the past several years.  Many writing faculty members have incorporated the use of Writing Centers into their course requirements.

B.4. Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) provides academic support to historically difficult courses by employing student SI Leaders who have successfully completed the course with high grades to serve as peer-facilitators for group study and review sessions. SI Leaders hold two to three SI sessions per week for currently enrolled students, and facilitate peer discussion and the review of class lecture notes and key course concepts.   

B.5. Achieving the Dream: HCC Student Success Program

Funded by the Lumina Foundation, the Achieving the Dream grant addresses opportunities to improve student success rates in response to the diagnosis of College Student Learning Outcomes data. The primary goal of this initiative is to increase the academic success of under-prepared and under-represented student groups. Through the Achieving the Dream initiative, the HCC Student Success Program provides a range of academic and support services to enhance the educational experiences and learning outcomes of our students, and diagnoses and assesses the effectiveness of College-wide academic and support programs and services.

B.6. Computer Labs

Hillsborough Community College provides computer labs in a variety of formats.  For example, labs are dedicated to specific curricular areas, such as science, health sciences, and the preparatory curriculum in the areas of reading, writing, and math.  Such labs are integrated into the overall learning experience. 

Open labs are available as well and provide forums for lab instruction or for HCC students to complete assignments or practice computer skills, including preparing for State certification or licensing exams.  Labs are staffed with lab assistants who are on hand to answer student questions, help with assignments, or troubleshoot computer problems.  Table 1 below shows the distribution of Academic Support computers on each campus.

Table 2 shows the distribution of additional computer resources for students on each campus.

*Combined classroom/lab

B.7. Services for Students with Disabilities

HCC students who have disabilities are provided accommodations by HCC's Offices of Services for Students with Disabilities to ensure their access to all academic programs.   Those students who require academic accommodations must self-identify and provide appropriate documentation to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities on their respective campuses.  (HCC Student Handbook and Academic Planner p. 22-23; HCC Catalog pp. 71-72; sample letter to students with disabilities included in admissions packet).  During the 2004-2005 academic year, HCC provided these services to 969 students.  

B.8. The Student Support Services Program (SSSP)

Hillsborough Community College's Federally funded Student Support Services Program (SSSP) provides a variety of Academic Ssupport Services to eligible students.  Upon acceptance into the SSSP, students participate in a number of intensive services such as, one-on-one tutoring, personal and academic counseling, assistance with financial aid, assistance with university transfer, and social and cultural enhancement programs. The SSSP serves approximately 250 students annually.

B.9. Honors Institute

Hillsborough Community College’s Honors Institute is designed to create an atmosphere of scholarly inquiry while experimenting with alternative learning strategies, fostering an environment of creative interaction and intellectual flexibility, and emphasizing critical research and writing in a major paper or project.   Students admitted to the Honors Institute are involved in additional scholarship opportunities, special advising, priority registration, and cultural and social activities.  The Honors Institute serves approximately 250 students annually, with a 100% transfer rate to senior institutions.

B.10. Learning Communities

Hillsborough Community College's Learning Communities are formed with groups of students sharing both similar academic interests and academic schedules.  HCC students and faculty work together to form a community of learners sharing a common academic experience.  Cohort scheduling, student work and study groups, interdisciplinary assignments, and extracurricular activities combine to create a unique and challenging academic experience.  HCC enrolled approximately 250 students in learning communities each term during the 2004-2005 academic year.

B.11. The First Year Experience

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, HCC's The First Year Experience (FYE) Program provides academic support to students who are enrolling in their first term at the College.   The project provides mentors to students, an early alert system, and specialized academic advising.   The FYE is currently available on two HCC campuses but will be expanded to all campuses by the end of the grant, ultimately serving 2,060.  As of Spring Term 2005, 240 HCC students have participated in the project. 

B.12. College Success Course

Hillsborough Community College offers the College Success Course to help HCC students become better learners and to maximize their college experience.  This course is taught either by HCC Counselors or other professional staff members who have completed specialized training. Students are given instruction in time management, reading, note and test taking skills, and critical thinking.  Enrollment in the College Success courses averages 425 students each semester.

B.13. Adelante

Adelante provides intensive supportive services to promising first-generation, Latino students and assists them with the transition from high school to HCC and, ultimately, to the University of South Florida.   Currently, 150 HCC students are participating in Adelante.   Adelante is funded by the Lumina Foundation’s Achieving the Dream:  Community Colleges Count project.

B.14. WINGS

The WINGS Program is designed to promote the graduation of single mothers pursuing two-year Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees and the completion of College Certificate programs.  A variety of support services are offered to address students' short-term and lifelong goals.  Students may qualify for partial tuition and textbook support in addition to childcare assistance.  Bus passes may also be available. 

During 2003-2004, there were 124 HCC students in the WINGS program.  Of those participants, 40 graduated during the year and are pursuing careers in their chosen field.  During 2004-2005, the number of WINGS participants increased to 135  students.  Many of the students in HCC's WINGS program would not be able to pursue degrees without the financial assistance they receive from the WINGS program; this assistance with tuition, textbooks, and childcare it allows them to concentrate on the business of their education.

B.15. Libraries/Learning Resouce Centers (LRC)

Hillsborough Community College's Libraries and Learning Resource Centers (LRC) provide Academic Support Services and materials to the College curriculum.  Academic Support Services offered by HCC's Libraries/ LRCs include the following:

• Instruction in the use of Library resources provided by Library faculty to HCC classes on a scheduled basis, to individuals at the point of use, and by appointment.  Library faculty and skilled support staff are available to assist with research and the utilization of Library resources and technologies;
• Reciprocal borrowing with other Florida community colleges and universities.  Interlibrary loan further enhances the availability of resources for HCC students; and
• Acquisitions, cataloging, and Library automation functions provided by HCC's District Library Technical Services Unit.

Academic Support materials offered by HCC's Libraries/ LRCs include the following:

• Collections include circulating and reference books, electronic books, current periodicals, archived publications, electronic databases, audiovisual programs, and reserve collections consisting of materials identified by HCC faculty for students’ attention. 
• Computer workstations to allow students to access databases and the Internet. 
• The HCC Library website( www.hccfl.edu) identifying all statewide community college holdings and serveing as a gateway to databases containing both full text and bibliographic information.  The Library website links to e-mail and synchronous, online reference assistance and to a variety of printed guides designed for student use. 
• Audiovisual laboratories, containing programs, compact discs, audio and videotapes, filmstrips, and slides, are housed at each campus LRC.