Department website: https://www.vanguard.edu/resources/academic-resource-center

ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

Amy Wilms, MEd, Director 

Mission: The Academic Resource Center (ARC) recognizes the unique characteristics of each student and seeks to provide an atmosphere of inclusion and understanding that supports academic growth and personal development. We help empower students to meet three goals: remain enrolled and progress in a program of study, flourish academically, and persist to graduation. We do this by collaborating with and supporting academic departments and university offices to provide programs that fulfill our university commitment to student success and retention. 

The Academic Resource Center houses the following departments/programs aimed at increasing student success and retention at Vanguard University.  

ACADEMIC SUCCESS COACHING

The Academic Success Coaching program offers a holistic view of student success and academic intervention. The Academic Success Coach is a model for effective organization, time-management, study skills, and executive functioning. ASCs are also responsible for imparting a feeling of ownership and a sense of agency over one’s academic journey, so the student is equipped to navigate the Vanguard University experience. The Academic Success Coaching program is positioned in a way that brings all of the components of the Academic Resource Center together in a comprehensive way.

DISABILITY SERVICES

The Office of Disability Services seeks to cultivate an inclusive and accessible university campus by removing environmental barriers. Our office exists to provide representation, access, service, reasonable accommodations, and community support to students with learning, physical, medical, and psychological disabilities through communication, advocacy, and collaborative services. Students with a temporary or permanent disability (including but not limited to attention-related, learning, mental health, vision, hearing, physical, or other health impairments) who need accommodations are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services.

TUTORIAL CENTER

Tutorial Center services are provided by Vanguard students who have mastered their material and have shown exemplary ability to facilitate learning for their peers. Students are encouraged to use the tutorial services in order to foster success in a class from the beginning, and tutoring is available to all students, whether the student finds a course challenging or simply wants to deepen their understanding of the material. Two hours of tutoring per week per class is provided at no cost to the student. Vanguard University attempts to provide tutoring for all requests, but in some instances it cannot be guaranteed. Information can be provided for external resources although they are not vetted by the University, and the cost is incurred by the student.

WRITING CENTER

The Vanguard Writing Center is committed to helping undergraduate and graduate student writers across the curriculum. Students from any major may bring writing projects (from shorter expository essays to longer research papers) to a Writing Center appointment and receive informed, thorough feedback from a peer consultant, with special attention given to the author’s concerns and the parameters of the specific assignment. The Writing Center is committed to assisting students from all disciplines in a collaborative, Christ-centered environment, and we value students’ learning differences and diverse voices. We can help students at any stage of the writing process, including: organizing notes, developing outlines, revising thesis statements, improving organization, or assisting with final editing.