For many students, asking for help can feel intimidating. At Xavier, the ARC (Academic Resource Center) Strategies class is working to change that.
In partnership with Rio Salado College, the Strategies course offers students college credit while strengthening reading comprehension, study skills and executive functioning. But beyond academics, the class provides something equally important, confidence.
“We have a win wall, and we’ve been tracking when a student feels successful,” ARC director Shannon Donaldson said. “I feel like confidence is being built. Confidence is a big piece.”
A sophomore in the class, who requested anonymity because of some lingering perceived judgments from others, confirmed the confidence boost. “The ARC has skyrocketed my confidence. As a class we learn about different learning styles and how to best support ourselves. This has improved my academic confidence but also my social confidence,” she said.
The ARC Strategies class is designed to strengthen academic skills, according to Donaldson. Students work on everything from breaking down college-level texts to managing planners and preparing for exams.
At the same time, the atmosphere remains relaxed and collaborative. “It’s very convivial,” Kelly Hubbard, another ARC instructor, said. “There’s a lot of talk and organic learning.”
Through a welcoming classroom framework and support from instructors, the class provides students with vital resources and techniques to help them improve essential learning skills.
A typical day in ARC begins with a warmup that reinforces “basic or challenging topics,” the anonymous source explained. From there, students transition into completing assignments, either for Strategies or other courses, with guidance available when needed.
“The Strategies class allows students to be independent and become problem-solvers while also having an outstanding support system if needed,” the anonymous source said. This balance encourages growth without removing accountability.
Assignments often include reading passages, grammar mechanics and learning practical strategies that can be applied across subjects. One specific tool that stands out is understanding root words.
“It is very helpful when reading to have prior knowledge of root words; that can then help one with an unknown word,” the anonymous source said. “This builds better comprehension of the text that is being read.”
Organization is another key focus of the course. “I apply this strategy to all things whether it is in class or at home. It has improved my efficiency greatly,” she added.
Time management is intentionally reinforced through structured planning. “The ARC ensures that all students keep a detailed record of their assignments and important events coming up,” the anonymous source explained, adding that she has “had no problem with time management since I began to take this class.”
Beyond academic strategies, ARC reshapes how students view seeking help. “A lot of the time students with learning difficulties feel embarrassed to ask for help, but in class not only is it encouraged but the teachers and atmosphere make students feel safe to ask for help,” she said.
As students grow more comfortable asking questions and using the tools they are taught, the impact of ARC extends far beyond one class period. The skills practiced each day begin to shape how students approach challenges across their entire academic experiences.
By combining structure, encouragement and practical techniques, the program ensures that students leave not only more organized and prepared, but more confident in their abilities to succeed.
