How Drexel Students Can Use the ARC, Drexel’s New Academic Resource Center

During the winter term, the Korman Center on Drexel University's University City Campus was announced as the home of the new Academic Resource Center (ARC), and more academic support services are being brought into the building in the upcoming months. The end goal is for the ARC to be a one-stop shop for most of the University's tutoring, academic coaching and academic support.

To reach that goal, the first phase of this project is to unite the University's existing learning centers in the way they provide services to students. Students will be able to have a consistent experience regardless of which service they are using.

But, having most of these services in one central location is only one part of this important endeavor, said Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success Rebecca Weidensaul, PhD.

"We're hoping that the ARC will help students become comfortable asking for assistance and seeking out resources because they are confident that there are people at the ARC to listen and help," said Weidensaul. "We want it to be easier for students to have a clear understanding of the resources that are available. For example, once the Center for Learning and Academic Success Services, or CLASS, is in residence, students will save time accessing adjacent tutoring services that may be part of their academic coaching plan developed by the professional coaches at CLASS." 

The ARC is part of a yearslong effort to increase student success, particularly among first- and second-year students, and make it easier for Dragons to find and receive the type of academic help they need.

"The goal is to reduce barriers to student success and access to support," said Weidensaul. "We do not want students to feel that they are disconnected, disengaged, confused and unmotivated when coursework becomes challenging or they want to do better."

Most of the current services located in the Korman Center were already there, but more will move over during the rest of the academic year.

"We are extremely excited to move the Academic Center for Engineers (ACE) to the vibrant student support hub at ARC," said Christopher M. Weyant, PhD, associate dean of undergraduate affairs and teaching professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. "In addition to being in a more convenient location, we look forward to walking students to other services which will benefit their learning. Every time I walk into the ARC and see students collaborating in the various spaces, I can’t help but feel energized by all the activity."

Here's what's available through the ARC at the Korman Center, and what will be coming soon:

A group study room and tables and chairs located on the second floor.

What's There Now

Study Spaces

A variety of tables and chairs are available in the lobby on the first floor for anyone to study (or hang out, eat, etc.). The second floor has additional tabling and seating, as well as special rooms for group study and a reservable multipurpose room (room 201).

The vending machine options on the first floor of the Korman Center.

Food and Drinks From Vending Machines

The first and second floors of the Korman Center house vending machines for drinks and packaged snacks and other options. The first floor also has a vending machine for grab-and-go meals, from fresh sandwiches and salads to frozen items including burritos and macaroni and cheese. There's also a microwave on the first floor that students can use.

The lobby and entryway to the Drexel Writing Center on the first floor.

Drexel Writing Center

• What is it: The Drexel Writing Center provides tutoring, reviewing and additional support for the entire Drexel community. In-person or online appointments are available for help with writing for classes and other purposes, like applications and letters for scholarships, co-ops and jobs. Offered through the University Writing Program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Drexel Writing Center connects students to undergraduate and graduate peer readers, faculty members, professional tutors and experts who specialize in working with multilingual students.
• Who can use it: Any member of the Drexel community, including undergraduate and graduate students.
• How to use it: To schedule an appointment, visit the Drexel Writing Center website.
• Where is it: Rooms 100–103 (first floor)

One of the areas for the Math Resource Center's help sessions.

Math Resource Center

• What is it: The Math Resource Center provides tutoring sessions and other assistance in relation to classes offered by the Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences. One of the ARC's first priorities was to build up math support for first-year students, which resulted in a "Tutors in Residence" program at most University City residential halls beginning in winter 2023.
• Who can use it: Undergraduates taking any level of math classes.
• How to use it: Stop by or schedule an appointment online.
• Where is it: Room 207 (second floor)

The physics, biology and chemistry resource centers share space on the first floor.

Physics Help! Center

• What is it: The Physics Help! Center provides tutoring for introductory-level classes offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Who can use it: Students taking those physics classes.
• How to use it: Review a schedule of help sessions online.
• Where is it: Room 104 (first floor)

Biology Resource Center

• What is it: The Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences provides tutoring for select BIO 100 levels of biology classes. 
• Who can use it: Students in those biology classes.
• How to use it: Check with your BIO instructor or your online course page for information.
• Where is it: Room 104 (first floor)

Chemistry Resource Center

• What is it: The Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences provides tutoring for CHEM 100–200 levels of chemistry classes.
• Who can use it: Students in those chemistry classes.
• How to use it: You can access it through Blackboard Learn or from your CHEM instructor.
• Where is it: Room 104 (first floor)

What's New This Spring Term

Academic Center for Engineers (ACE)

• What is it: The Academic Center for Engineers (ACE) provides support for engineering, business and engineering, or First-Year Exploratory Studies (FYES) STEM students. It's offered by the College of Engineering and features College of Engineering students as tutors.
• Who can use it: First and second-year students in select courses, as well as students looking for support for Python and MATLAB.
• How to use it: Sign up online for in-person or virtual tutoring.
• Where is it: ACE opens its doors April 10 in room 105 (first floor). ACE used to be located in the garden level of Main Building at 3141 Chestnut St.

What's Coming Next

The Center for Learning and Academic Success Services (CLASS)

• What is it: The Center for Learning and Academic Success Services (CLASS) provides a variety of services for both undergraduate and graduate students — and connects them with all of the other resources available at the ARC or elsewhere on campus. With CLASS, students can connect with academic coaches and learning specialists, and receive tutoring if they're in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Medicine, and the David and Dana Dornsife School of Public Health. CLASS also holds many events throughout the term — like academic skills and strategy workshops and specific study hours — and connects with other partner programs, like the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (more on that below), the Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship and the Center for Autism and Neurodiversity.
• Who can use it: All undergraduate and graduate students.
• How to use it: Check out the CLASS website for information on offerings and ways to sign up for academic coaching, tutoring, upcoming events and more.
• Where is it: In Korman, it will be located on the first floor of the building. Currently, CLASS is located in the garden level of the Creese Student Center at 3210 Chestnut St.
• When will it open in Korman: By fall 2023.

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and Bridge to Doctorate Program

• What is it: The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded program to connect and support the academic and professional development of underrepresented minority students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Its goal is to increase the number of minority students receiving degrees in STEM disciplines.
• Who can use it: Undergraduate students who are a part of LSAMP. Membership is open to Dragons who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of African American, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, and Latinx ethnicity and are majoring in STEM fields. Students can join at any point during their undergraduate studies at Drexel. While this program prioritizes the services to a specific population, LSAMP's director assists the members of CLASS with specific STEM support strategies and coaching for all STEM students.
• How to use it: Contact Drexel's LSAMP Director Marisol Rodriguez-Mergenthal to get involved.
• Where is it: This will be located adjacent to the STEM tutoring services on the first floor. Currently, the LSAMP office is located in the garden level of the Creese Student Center at 3210 Chestnut St.
• When will it open in Korman: By fall 2023.

The Office of Inter-College Advising

• What is it: The Office of Inter-College Advising oversees University-wide academic advising initiatives and supports each college, school and other academic unit's academic advisers who help students navigate their journey at Drexel. It also fosters collaboration across and with Drexel's network of academic units and academic support services on campus, including CLASS and Learning Alliance
• Who can use it: Academic advisers, ARC professional staff and members of the Learning Alliance work closely with this office to support student success through coordinated academic support and advising. While most services at the ARC are student-serving units, having academic advising expertise in-residence enables the ARC team to create a community of professional best practice through shared vision, leadership and collaboration.

• Where is it: This will be located on the first floor of Korman. Currently, the Office of Inter-College Advising is located on the first floor of Main Building (suite 106).
• When will it open in Korman: By fall 2023.