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The Ruth Sharkey Academic Resource Center (ARC) is preparing for one of its largest and most popular events of the semester—“SHU Tutopia.” The Dec. 15 event provides a balance of work and play with tutoring available for students for their upcoming final exams and food and games for relieving the stress of final exams.
“SHU Tutopia” will take place in the Bishop Dougherty University Center Main Lounge from 3-6 p.m. and serves as one of many resources provided to students by the nationally recognized ARC.
The ARC recently earned program certification and accreditation from the National Tutoring Association (NTA). The accreditation reflects the steps Seton Hall takes to train its ARC tutors to foster student academic success. ARC also received the 2015 Service Excellence Award, from the Division of Student Services, for the second consecutive year.
In order to be recognized by the ARC, prospective student and faculty tutors have to undergo training both online and in-person. The ARC Director, Monica Burnette, said tutor training focuses on ethics and etiquette, questioning and communication skills, and study skills and critical thinking. The ARC’s website says that Basic Level Tutor Certification through NTA began in fall 2015.
The recent accreditation from the NTA, says ARC Director Monica Burnette, provides “assurance to the Seton Hall community that ARC tutors have received consistent and effective training in encouraging academic success.” The ARC offers tutoring for students in more than 40 subjects.
In the past two years, the ARC has grown from solely a tutoring resource to a large component of student life at Seton Hall.
The ARC now works closely with the Freshman Studies program, Writing Center, the Mathematics Learning Lab, Tutors in Residence and other programs to maintain an “up to date tutoring schedule for students,” Burnette said.
More than 3,000 tutoring visits are made to the ARC each academic year, according to the center.
The ARC also sponsors workshops available to all students on skills such as organization, note taking and time management. Promoting student academic success, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office at Seton Hall offer workshops on positive ways to relieve stress.
Amy Vandegriff, occupational therapy program freshman, says ARC helps her stay focused in her classes.
“The tutors are easy to approach and truly want me to succeed. My personal favorite is the Writing Center. Through the tutors there, I was able to turn in a paper I was proud of,” Vandegriff said.
Miles Nash, a junior economics major minoring in legal studies who is a peer adviser, encourages his students to visit the ARC regularly.
“The ARC is full of great resources for students of all grade levels. I still use some of the services, like tutoring and the Writing Center, even as a junior.
Megan Omalley can be reached at megan.omalley@student.shu.edu.
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