The Academic Resource Centers (on both the Macon and Warner Robins campuses) exist to provide outside-the-classroom academic assistance to students. The ARCs are staffed with professional and peer tutors. The Coordinator of the Macon ARC is Mr. Paul Johnson and the Coordinator of the WR ARC is Ms. Jeannie Ruggerio. In addition to tutoring assistance, the ARCs provide academic success skills workshops, computer labs on both campuses, video-streaming services for faculty, email and computer skills assistance for students, printing and scanning resources for students, in-class presentations about the ARCs or academic success topics, study resources for several courses, extended hours to accommodate part-time and non-traditional learners, study rooms for group study (Macon campus), and a very robust website with resources for faculty and students, links to other learning assistance sites, information on the detection and prevention of plagiarism, and online tutorials covering such topics as the COMPASS test. Our services are more completely outlined in the tabs below.

In addition to providing content-specific tutoring, our tutors are required to complete a training program certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and seek certification at the Regular, Advanced, and Master levels. The training includes topics such as Ethics in Tutoring, Active Listening, Communication Skills, Use of Probing Questions, Critical Thinking, Modeling Problem Solving, Cultural Awareness, Learning Styles, Group Management, and Dealing with Special Populations (Non-traditional, Learning Difference, and First Generation students).

Each semester, the ARCs offer the following workshops:

• Time Management: 10 tips for working smarter; the problems associated with cramming; how to set up daily, weekly and monthly schedules; and how to motivate yourself to stay on schedule
• Note Taking During Lectures: How to prepare for lecture; what to write during lectures; how to organize your notes for review; and how to predict test questions
• Reading Textbooks Efficiently: Three myths regarding reading speed; key ideas for increasing speed; strategies for overcoming faulty habits; and methods for practicing reading speed
• Staying Focused: What concentration is and how it works; methods to get yourself started; ways to increase your attention span; and how to focus at will
• Organizing Textbook Reading: Strategies for organizing your reading tasks efficiently; how to pre-read for main ideas; good underlining/marking strategies; and review strategies after reading
• Test Taking: How do I know what to study? Several methods for organizing information before an exam; strategies for mastering information; and how to establish a final exam study schedule
• Test Taking: How do I show what I know? How to set up a review schedule prior to a test; what to do the day of the exam; how to take both multiple choice and essay exams; what to do after the test
• Test Taking: Multiple Choice Guidelines: How to determine the level of difficulty of a multiple choice question and the guidelines for eliminating options

Workshops currently under development and to be offered in the future include Critical Thinking and Basic Computer Skills.

At the Macon ARC, there are 96 computer workstations (including two Macintosh computers and two assistive technology workstations) for student use. There are also two computer labs with 30 workstations and one instructor station each. The labs can be opened up to accommodate a total of 60 workstations controlled from one instructor station. These labs can be booked for occasional class meetings requiring computers and for computer testing on a large scale. The labs cannot accommodate regularly-scheduled classes.

At the Warner Robins ARC, there are 51 computer workstations (including one assistive technology workstation).

The computers in the ARCs are loaded with the latest software available on campus. If faculty members require software to be loaded in the ARCs to support their classes, coordination is required between Technology Resources, the academic division, and the ARC.

The ARC has streamed numerous video and audio resources for faculty online. Faculty who use this service report that having the resources online are a benefit because they no longer have to spend time tracking down tapes, DVDs, A/V equipment, or take up class time showing videos. Students only need access to a high-speed Internet connection (at home or in the ARC) to view the resources online at a time that is convenient to them.

Students who need to activate or access their student email account can be assisted in the ARCs. The ARCs also help students access online coursework and efficiently navigate and print online course materials. Problems requiring a higher level of assistance are referred to the Technology Assistance Center. ARC staff members are also available to help students who need assistance with basic computer skills.

Each semester, students are given $35.00 of free printing in the ARCs. Print jobs are charged at a rate of $0.10 per page for black and white printing and $0.50 per page for color printing. Students may pay to increase their print allowance, if needed. The ARCs also provide scanners for student use.

The ARC coordinators are available to host or come to your class to give an ARC Orientation or tailored Academic Success Skills topic presentation. Contact the coordinators for more information on this service.

The ARCs house study resources for many disciplines. Examples include: Course-specific math videotapes for checkout or viewing in the ARC, grammar worksheets, old textbooks, APA and MLA handouts, solutions manuals for several courses, and resources for the COMPASS test.

ARC hours are:

Macon Campus: Monday - Thursday - 8am-10pm (9pm during summer semester)
Friday - 8am-Noon
Sunday - 2pm - 6pm

Warner Robins Campus: Monday - Thursday - 8am - 9pm
Friday - 8am-Noon
No weekend hours

During semester breaks, the ARCs are open Monday through Friday, 8am - 4:30pm with no weekend hours.

On the Macon campus, there are 13 rooms available for small or large group study. Some study rooms are equipped with computers for group project work and all have tables, chairs, and white boards.

On the Warner Robins campus, there are three rooms available for small or large group study.

Found at http://www.maconstate.edu/arc, the dynamic and ever-changing ARC website has many resources for faculty and students. Among the many resources on the site are:

• A tutoring schedule showing when tutors are available for each subject on both campuses
• A guide to plagiarism for both faculty and students
• Resources (including streaming video/audio) for several disciplines
• COMPASS Test resources and tutorials
• MSCC 1000 information and links
• General study skills links and tutorials
• College vocabulary resources
• Floor plans and pictures of the Library building
• Pictures of ARC staff members

Paul Johnson, the Macon ARC Coordinator, can be contacted at (478) 471-2057 or email at arc@maconstate.edu. Jeannie Ruggerio, the WRC ARC Coordinator can be contacted at (478) 929-6770 or by email at jeannie.ruggerio@maconstate.edu. The Macon ARC is located in the lower level of the Library building and the WRC ARC is located in room 128 of Oak Hall on that campus.