CAS Member Spotlight: College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)

This month in our CAS Member Organization Spotlight Series, we are proud to feature the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). CRLA members are leaders and educators across universities, colleges, community colleges, and adult learning environments who are committed to supporting students’ academic success. With expertise in reading, learning assistance, tutoring, developmental education, and peer education, CRLA provides a vital community where professionals can share research, strategies, and innovations that enhance student learning.

Collaboration with CAS
CRLA has played an important role in the development of the CAS Learning Assistance Programs and Services (LAP) Standards. These standards, along with the Learning Assistance Programs Functional Area Resource Paper (FARP), provide a clear framework for designing, assessing, and improving learning centers and tutoring programs. Developed collaboratively with CRLA leaders and other associations, the LAP FARP offers practical examples from institutions nationwide that use CAS standards to evaluate and strengthen their services.

Access these resources here:

• CAS Standards for Learning Assistance Programs
• Learning Assistance Programs Functional Area Resource Paper (FARP)
  
  

CRLA members also benefit from related CAS standards that address tutoring, peer education, advising, TRIO and College Access Programs, disability resources, and multicultural student programs. Together, these tools provide an evaluative framework for advancing academic support services across higher education.

Impact Through Standards
The impact of CAS and CRLA collaboration can be seen in institutions such as the University of Arizona’s Think Tank, which used the LAP standards for a self-study and went on to receive the prestigious CAS Ted Miller Award. This recognition highlights how standards-based evaluation can elevate program quality and demonstrate measurable contributions to student success.

CRLA also regularly offers professional development around CAS standards at its annual and regional conferences. Upcoming sessions, such as “Innovative Program Evaluation through the CAS Learning Assistance Program Standards,” provide members with timely updates and strategies for applying standards to their work.

Looking Ahead
Beyond its collaboration with CAS, CRLA continues to lead in professional development through its International Tutor Training Program Certification (ITTPC) and International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC), both of which are premier credentials for campus-based tutoring and peer education programs.

CRLA will host its 58th Annual Conference in San Francisco on November 12–15, 2025, with the theme The Golden Gateway to Academic Innovation. Registration is open now at https://crla.net/page/2025Conference.
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To learn more about CRLA, its certifications, and its ongoing initiatives, visit www.crla.net.