The organization's certification program provides recognition and positive reinforcement for tutors' successful service and sets a standard of skills and training for tutors. 

University College's Learning Center is designed to enhance the academic success of Ball State students by providing free peer tutoring, supplemental instruction and workshops covering a variety of academic issues. So far in 2004-05, the Learning Center has served 5,726 students.

Jennifer Haley, core curriculum tutoring coordinator and supplemental instruction supervisor, said the certification process was rigorous as she and staff members Jackie Harris and Gary Ritz redesigned tutor training to fit CRLA guidelines, including creating online tutoring modules, planning and conducting training workshops on a variety of topics and rewriting the tutor training handbooks. 

To meet the CRLA guidelines, students working as peer tutors in the Learning Center were required to take part in two levels of training.

Ball State's Learning Center has been recognized in the past as a national leader in the field of learning assistance. It was the first center in the nation to receive certification for its tutoring program from the National Association of Developmental Education (NADE). 

The Learning Center also is one of the largest employers of students on campus, employing 175 tutors, supplemental instruction leaders and student assistants.

CRLA is a voluntary association of 1,200 post-secondary learning assistance colleagues, including tutor trainers, faculty in various fields, learning center administrators and other learning assistance professionals who work primarily in North America.