First-year students entering Texas Tech University are encouraged to enroll for IS 1100, Tech Transition: Freshman Seminar, a course designed to facilitate the transition of students from high school to the university environment. In 2002 1,128 students (out of a total of 4,283 first-year students for the university) enrolled for IS 1100, and in 2003 enrollment was 1,342 (out of a total of 4,326 entering first-year students). These numbers represent approximately 1/4 of entering first-year students in 2002 and nearly 1/3 of first-year students in 2003. Freshman Seminar classes are taught by faculty from across campus. In order to maintain consistency in the content of the course, instructors are required to cover several items in a common syllabus. Among those items is a requirement that students receive training in library use. Generally, this component of the course is accomplished by scheduling a class library tour (conducted by library staff) and requiring students to complete an exercise that requires them to select a topic and locate sources related to it in the university library. IS 1100 is assessed mainly through student course evaluations and also by tracking the success of IS 1100 students as they progress through their college career and comparing their performance with students who did not take the course. In general, students who completed IS 1100 had slightly higher retention rates after the first year than students who did not take the course. Data on completion of the baccalaureate degree in four, five, and six years show considerably higher percentages for IS 1100 students than for non-IS 1100 students. Data are available at (http://www.irim.ttu.edu/SACSFocusReport/ComparativePerformanceIS-NonIS.pdf). There is no specific course-wide evaluation of the library training component of IS 1100, so we are unable to determine to what extent library training may have contributed to the relatively better retention and graduation data for students who took the course.

In addition to IS 1100, the library offers a one-hour course (LIBR 1100 Introduction to Library Research) that introduces students to life-long information literacy skills and establishes tools for effective and efficient research. The course is taught by professional librarians and has four main objectives: to present the arrangement and services of the Texas Tech University libraries; to provide an introduction to resources and search strategies; to outline a transferable, systematic plan for critical evaluation and use of these resources in a variety of ways; and to promote the effective use of information to accomplish specific tasks. The student information page for the course is on line at http://library.ttu.edu/ul/instruction/libr1100.php. Introduction to Library Research is offered each semester and enrolled between 50 and 65 students over the past three semesters when it was offered (fall 2002, 50 students; fall 2003, 65 students; spring 2004, 53 students. For fall 2004, 199 students are pre-enrolled for LIBR 1100. In addition, a small number of students enroll for the on-line version of LIBR 1100 (total of 49 since the on-line course was begun in fall 2003).

In addition to the courses described above, many departments and individual instructors include some level of library use instruction in their programs and courses. Since few of these requirements are specified as course requirements, it is very difficult to determine the extent to which such instruction occurs and its relative effectiveness.

Librarians consider that one of their missions is to guide students in their quest for information to prepare class assignments, to facilitate research, and for personal purposes. They come into daily contact with dozens of students who seek help in locating resources in the library. In the process of helping these students, librarians also instruct them in techniques for using the library. This informal instruction is difficult to document and assess, but it comprises an important component of library user instruction at Texas Tech University.

Computer instruction is available through the Advanced Technology Learning Center, located in the west basement of the university library. The ATLC offers a variety of short courses for students and faculty on use of different software packages. The ATLC also makes available computer-based training, training videos, and on-line tutorial packages to familiarize users with several software packages. The university has an agreement with Microsoft Company whereby students and faculty may purchase many Microsoft products at reduced prices or, in some cases, download them free. Much of the training material is focused on software included in the agreement with Microsoft Company. ATLC training programs are described on their web site at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/itts/training/.

For faculty, the Teaching and Learning Technology Center provides a wide range of short courses and other training, mainly aimed toward helping faculty members become competent users of educational computer and related technology. The fall 2004 list of courses and other events is on line at https://www.tltc.ttu.edu/content/asp/main/public_tltc_class_schedule.asp.

In addition to the above, several departments offer classes on computer use (for a list of such courses, refer to the response to Comprehensive Standard 3.4.14), and such training is also available as a component within courses in areas such as engineering, education, business administration, public administration, and others.