Instructional Support Services

Academic support services enhance all students’ chances of success in college-level courses and provide students with opportunities to improve specific skills before enrolling in college- level courses. South Plains College maintains a variety of programs and services designed to support teaching and learning at the college and to assist students in successfully achieving their educational goals. Students may access these learning resources at any of the college’s campus locations.

Teaching and Learning Center

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) on the Levelland campus assists students in developing the skills, strategies and knowledge to perform as confident, independent and active learners, prepared for a lifetime of learning. Housed on the third floor of the library building, the TLC provides academic support services to all SPC students and professional development activities to all employees. Services provided include peer tutoring, study skills assessment with individual learning plans and advisement, learning strategy instruction, and independent study. With its motto, “Working for You,” the Learning Center typifies the South Plains College commitment to improving each student’s life.

Additionally, the TLC is part of the professional development program for all employees, offering First Week activities each fall and spring semester and sponsoring numerous other workshops and activities throughout the academic year, including the federally-funded Title V program awarded to SPC as a federally- designated Hispanic serving institution. The focus of the Title V program at SPC is “Building Connections for Student Access and Academic Success.”

In the TLC students can acquire and adapt study skills, prepare for coursework or receive personalized instruction for improving learning and making better grades. A fully qualified staff are available in the Learning Center to help students acquire the academic skills and learning strategies necessary for college success with a curriculum, including learning strategies courses at different levels (READ 0310, 0320); technical/scientific reading (READ 1314); and college success courses (HUDV 1100 and HUDV 1300).

Tutors identified and recommended by the faculty provide free tutoring in most subjects taught on campus and can help students develop study techniques and learning strategies specific to different disciplines. The center operates a nationally recognized Level 1 Tutor Certification Program (through the College Reading and Learning Association).

The Learning Center also provides Texas Success Initiative preparation and development activities. South Plains College’s reading program is recognized by professionals across the state for its excellence and success in helping students pass the college placement reading test. An independent study of data from 10 of the best community college reading programs in Texas ranked the SPC Learning Center Reading Program as number one.

In addition to the seminars offered in many courses each semester, PowerPoint presentations and other resources on specific study skills are available through the Teaching and Learning Center web site. Links to sites with important information about learning skills and technology are also available at the website, along with information about all services provided in the TLC.

Academic support services enhance all students’ chances of success in college-level courses and provide students with opportunities to improve specific skills before enrolling in historically difficult courses. Sensitive and responsive to the individual differences and special needs among learners, the TLC provides an array of activities and services to promote the cognitive and affective growth of all postsecondary learners at all levels of the learning continuum. Many innovative projects are developed and tested in the Teaching and Learning Center through use of Title V funds.

Reese Testing and Learning Center

At the SPC Reese Center and Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, learning resources and services are available through the Testing and Learning Center. Such services actively assist students in reaching their educational, personal and professional goals. The center represents a comprehensive learning resources program characterized by a fully qualified staff, up-todate equipment, current materials, basic skills improvement and learning skills development. The learning resources program is a crucial part of the educational process for students.

The Testing and Learning Center provides the following services: course support with particular emphasis on math, English and reading; free specialized tutoring for individuals or groups; assessment of basic skills; personal development and study skills techniques; computer-assisted instruction; lecture notes and study materials for specific courses; computers and adaptive equipment; technical communications lab; and assessment and independent study programs for basic skills development. Another component of the Testing and Learning Center is placement assessment for incoming students. Information about test dates can be found on our web site at www.southplainscollege.edu/test/. You may e-mail questions about testing and/or learning resources from this site to our center’s staff.

The Testing and Learning Center is located in Building 8 at the SPC Reese Center. Services at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center are located in Room 158.

The primary mission of the libraries of South Plains College is to support the academic, vocational-technical, continuing education and community service programs of the college by providing students, faculty, staff, and the community with the information resources and services they need to achieve their educational objectives.

Graduate-degreed librarians are available to assist students, faculty and others during all hours the libraries are open. Direct personal reference assistance is provided to help in locating information. Other services provided by the libraries include group tours, information literacy instruction, interlibrary loans, specialized database searches, laminating, and audio and videotape duplication. Copy machines are available in the libraries for student, faculty, staff, and community use. Equipment available for use includes computers, microform reader/printers, tape players/recorders, and audiovisual equipment used to view videos, DVDs, and slides.

The library website serves as the focal point for services and information. Downloadable video casts designed to provide a quick start in using the library are available from the website.  Six teaching modules for library skills can be accessed through the website and complement information literacy teaching done in the library. In addition to the wealth of databases and online catalog provided via the website, library users may submit requests for intercampus loans, interlibrary loans from other libraries nationwide, recommend materials for purchase, view new materials lists, and contact librarians via e-mail. Links to related information, such as copyright issues and plagiarism, also are available on the website: http://www2.southplainscollege.edu/library/

The libraries have a state-of-the-art online catalog which allows easy access to library holdings. The libraries’ online databases may be accessed from the library or any campus computer connected to the internet and from remote sites via the internet using a password. These databases give access to several thousand periodicals from which full text articles and images may be viewed and printed. In addition, students have internet access to over 44,000 electronic books.

A valid and current student identification card is required to check out materials from the libraries. This identification card is also required to use the Texas Tech University and Wayland Baptist University libraries with which SPC maintains reciprocal library agreements.

The main library on the Levelland campus houses more than 75,000 volumes, including an extensive print reference collection and an up-to-date circulating collection, which support all college programs. Also available are over 30,000 microforms and over 1,000 non-print materials, including audiotapes, CDs, videocassettes, and DVDs. The Levelland library is open during the fall and spring semesters from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Sunday hours are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Operational hours during the summer and between semesters vary and are posted.

The Reese Center library has materials carefully selected to support the allied health, business and industrial technology programs, as well as the arts and sciences courses offered at the center. The library also has a special collection of children’s literature to support the Child Development program and to encourage family literacy. The Reese Center library is located in Building 8 of the Reese Center and maintains hours during the fall and spring semesters from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Hours of operation between semesters and during the summer vary and are posted.

The Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, 3201 Avenue Q, Lubbock, and the Plainview Center, 1920 W. 24th Street, Plainview, are supported by the libraries’ online services, and the Plainview Center also has a library area with a small print reference collection. Other services for these locations can be requested through the main library in Levelland.

The libraries are members of TexShare, a statewide consortium of academic libraries, public libraries, and libraries of clinical medicine. TexShare maximizes the effectiveness of library expenditures by enabling libraries to share staff expertise; share library resources in print and electronic formats, including books, journals, technical reports, and databases; pursue joint purchasing agreements for information services; and encourage cooperative development and deployment of information resources and technologies. The libraries also maintain cooperative agreements with local universities and other agencies to extend the resources available to their users.