Supported by the university, the Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides peer tutoring in most subjects and courses offered by the various departments across the university. The ARC works in close quarters with Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UGAA) and the Office of Student Affairs to augment students' learning process.
The ARC also offers supplemental instruction (SI) to various courses (particularly 100 and 200 level) across the university to enable constant support with the subject matter in courses where it is needed the most. This positively impacts student success and outcome.
All ARC Services are free to use for current Illinois Tech students.
Peer Tutoring
Peer tutoring is a free drop-in service, open to all registered students. Our tutors are top-performing undergraduate and graduate students who help students gain a sound understanding of course concepts and materials. They are chosen on basis of their area of expertise. Tutors are available either on a drop-in basis or in group consultation.
Academic Coaching
The ARC works closely with the Office of Student Affairs and the Empowerment, Leadership, and Mentorship program leaders to provide academic coaching (GLS 182). Students who take GLS courses, on average, improve their academic performance by one letter grade going forward. Regardless of a student's starting grade-point average, a significant number of post-GLS students obtain a GPA in the high 3s or 4.0. GLS students are supported by ELM-trained undergraduate peer-mentors and graduate TA academic coaches, in addition to the significant support services available in peer-tutoring for academic subjects provided via the ARC.
Exam Reviews
Exam reviews help students with successful strategies for review on their answers, guided by a tutor. Students test themselves both to practice for the exam and to diagnose areas of weakness. To help students visualize quality responses on free response questions, students practice exam-related problem samples. To submit an exam review request, .
Workshops and Seminars
We also conduct the following that help students plan their study schedules:
- Subject-related workshops during the semester
- The Educational Strategies Workshop at the beginning of the semester.