On Feb. 22, Drexel University announced the Academic Resource Center (ARC). Located in the Korman Center, it will serve as the core for academic support on campus. The ARC will integrate the existing academic services around campus into a central location, providing a convenient way for students to access academic resources and opportunities.The ARC will offer services such as tutoring in multiple disciplines, a network of academic resources for both undergraduate and graduate students and comfortable study spots. 

The ARC offers tutoring in biology, chemistry, math and physics and also incorporates the Drexel Writing Center. For biology, chemistry and physics, the ARC offers tutoring for most introductory and 100 level classes. For the Drexel Writing Center and the Math Resource Center, one-on-one support as well as remote tutoring options are available. With all of these subjects, students should contact their instructors or visit the ARC’s website to set up tutoring appointments. Tutoring in these subjects has been available in the past, however the Academic Resource Center organizes all of these services into one space, making it convenient for students to get the support they need.

The ARC also leads the Learning Alliance, which provides a network of resources and services for students. They offer discipline-specific resources, as well as overarching services like undergraduate research programs, disability resources and the Center for Autism and Neurodiversity, all of which can be accessed through the ARC’s website. The Learning Alliance also features the English Learning Center, which offers international students support through tutoring, consultations and diagnostic services.

Another important resource, though not located in the Korman Center, is the Center for Learning and Academic Success Services (CLASS). CLASS supports students through peer and professional academic coaching, workshops on study skills and time management and access to learning specialists. A unique resource of CLASS is the general studies elective GSTD 100, Strategies for Academic Success, which covers topics such as learning strategies, personal development, academic self-management and resource utilization. Additionally, CLASS sponsors StudyPalooza, which is held multiple times a year to help students prepare for finals through interactive study tips, stress relief activities and food. 

Rebecca Weidensaul, PhD, will be the head of the Academic Resource Center. As Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success, she oversees the ARC and CLASS, utilizing her years of experience in student life as well as her cooperative approach. Weidensaul supervises student success programs such as the Center for Inclusive Education and Scholarship and the Drexel Autism Support Program. 

Weidensaul has two decades of leadership in Drexel’s athletics department, and also has experience as a member of the undergraduate admissions team. With her skillset and experience serving Drexel, Dr. Weidensaul has changed the way academic resources are available to students, making the plethora of resources and opportunities available at Drexel even more accessible and easy to use.      

The overarching goal of the new Academic Resource Center is to support students and to position them for academic success. The center will serve as a hub for students’ academic needs, and is a convenient, streamlined way for Dragons to get the support they need, giving them access to a wide variety of resources all in one place. 

Within the many spheres and skills of Drexel student life, the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) finds comfort in community. SASE develops itself by having members volunteer for the local community, preparing them for the workplace or advocating for them by promoting cultural diversity on Drexel’s campus. 

SASE is dedicated to preparing Asian heritage scientists and engineers for success in the global business world, celebrating diversity on Drexel’s campus, in the workplace and giving back to the local community. Professional development, cultural diversity and community volunteering are the three main pillars of SASE national. SASE’s Drexel chapter has a unique take to bring about all three aspects of the mission to its student members and the residents of the local community around Drexel’s campus.

To help students academically and professionally, SASE has created a mentorship program that allows SASE upperclassmen to offer guidance to younger members. 

“Through multiple events, they meet each other where they would be paired as a mentorship pair not limited to being in the same major or same college that way they can connect with others from different colleges and learn from them,” says Christine Su, SASE’s internal vice president and a third-year double majoring in International Business and Technology and Innovation Management.

Aside from its mentorship program, SASE’s e-board has an agenda to promote cultural diversity at Drexel by hosting Asian inclusive events that encourage members of Drexel’s AAPI student population to join them. 

According to Angel Trach, SASE’s president and fourth-year majoring business and engineering and minoring in robotics, “While we are always looking to recruit more members to join SASE and participate in our events, we also want to make sure we retain our members as well as provide events they are interested in attending.”

Outside of Drexel’s campus, SASE strongly believes in helping the local community, including but not limited to communities within Philadelphia with an outstanding Asian-American population. 

“Giving back to the community is really something we do as an org, and we really try to emphasize to our members that it is a big part of our org,” says Angel.

In order to provide all of these different experiences, SASE receives outside funding. Shan Chen, SASE’s event coordinator and a second-year Software Engineering major, recalls, “We collaborated with The Walsh Group last year where we hosted a virtual panel with them and through this, they were able to sponsor us for our national conference this year.”

SASE is a club that breaks the boundaries of what a typical student-life club at Drexel can do. It is also a club that is 100% committed to supporting students culturally and academically while also helping the community around them. Other clubs at Drexel can take a page from SASE’s book to introduce students to new ideas and give them fresh experiences by exploring multiple avenues to involvement on campus.