Information Literacy: Process and Progress at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

1. Information Literacy: Process and Progress at Indiana University of Pennsylvania Walter Laude Media Librarian Indiana University of Pennsylvania waltl@iup.edu Susan Drummond Bibliographic instruction Librarian Indiana University of Pennsylvania Drummond@iup.edu

2. Year 1 – Learning Phase Spring 2000 The Provost, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the University Libraries sponsored an Information Literacy Think Tank. Librarians Blaine Knupp and Susan Drummond presented a half-day workshop entitled “Information Literacy at IUP: Educating the Cut and Paste Generation.” Over 50 faculty and administrators representing all colleges on campus attended.

3. Year 2 - Planning Phase 2001-2002 As a result of the think tank, the provost authorized an Information Literacy Task Force and provided $20,000 of funding to research information literacy issues, develop IUP information literacy standards based on the ACRL standards, collect baseline data on IUP student’s IL skills with a survey, develop an IL web site, create an RFP for IL grants, disseminate the RFP, and gain approval for IUP information literacy standards from the University Senate and the University-wide Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

4. Year 3 – Development Phase 2002-2003 The Information Literacy Task Force and the University Libraries held a well attended second Information Literacy Think Tank with IL consultant Carla List, called “Building a Better IUP graduate: Teaching Information Access.” Attendees received the ACRL Standards, Middle States Standard #12 where information literacy is specifically addressed, and ten tips for incorporating IL into a course syllabus.

5. Year 3 – Development Phase 2002-2003 • At the close of the academic year, the standards for IL proposed by the taskforce to the Liberal Studies Committee, the UWUCC, and the Library and Educational Services Committee, were endorsed by the Senate and the three committees whose support was required for acceptance. This was a significant achievement for the university. • The presence of these campus standards combined with the new focus upon IL in the Middle States standards will promote the incorporation of these skills into courses and programs across IUP’s curriculum.

6. Year 3 – Development Phase 2002-2003 • By the end of the spring 2003 semester, a second round of IL mini-grants were awarded to 6 academic departments for IL incorporation among their own department members. • The IL Task Force established a goal to transfer the responsibility for oversight of IL to the Liberal Studies Committee by June 30, 2005.

7. Year 4 – Implementation Phase 2003-2004 • A third think tank workshop, “Building a Better IUP Graduate II: Teaching Information Access” was held which included training sessions for faculty. • As part of the Middle States self-study, the General Education committee, (Standard 12), is incorporating IL with recommendations for implementation throughout he Liberal Studies program which is also undergoing program change and evaluation. • This academic year will also see a continuation of faculty workshops and training, and the development of online IL tutorials

8. Year 5 – Standardization Phase 2004-2005 • IUP will continue to build IL components into most first year courses. • IL will be added to the criteria for curriculum proposals going to the UWUCC. • IUP IL standards will become both a required student proficiency and an expected outcome of Liberal Studies. • Faculty will be expected to include an IL component in their course syllabi. • An online exam will be developed for all students to prove their proficiency in IL.. • All incoming students will be tested for their IL proficiency.