What Does Arcadia Have to Offer to Students?
Arcadia University is a small liberal arts university about a 30 to 45-minute drive from the center of Philadelphia. Arcadia has many resources for students to ensure their success both now and in the future. I highly recommend learning more about the resources they have to offer. This blog will serve as a guide for prospective and current students.
- Classes: If you have any questions about classes, I highly recommend talking to your academic advisor. If you don’t know who is your advisor yet, you can find out by logging into PortalGuard, going to Self-Service, going to the Registration section, and then scrolling down. There you will see who your academic advisor is. I would meet them at least once per semester to check in and ensure you are on track toward your graduation requirements. Many students meet with their advisors more than once per semester for career questions and opportunities. For students who are interested in pursuing careers in health professional schools, Arcadia also offers a pre-health advisor as well to ensure you complete all prerequisite classes and do some extracurricular activities to become a successful applicant.
- Tutoring: If you have an issue with a specific content or concept, Arcadia provides a tutoring service free of charge through the Learning Resource Network(LRN). If you want to make an appointment with them, you could do so by going to PortalGuard, clicking on OAD Services, and choosing between the Writing Center which is for writing specifically, or the LRN for any specific classes. There are a lot of tutors who are willing to help.
- Student Wellness Services: Arcadia also offers Student Health Services (SHS), which is located on the ground floor of Heinz Hall. SHS provides a wide variety of services, from physical examinations to vaccinations. Additionally, they offer counseling services for students. You can visit them for drop-in hours or make an appointment in advance. It is also a place where students can go and get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- Study abroad: Arcadia is a well-known and top-ranked university in the U.S. for study abroad. Arcadia has many study abroad options available to every student and offers many options from summer to one full academic year. Arcadia has partnered with different top universities in the world, including ones in Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Latin America, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain…etc. You can learn more about these opportunities here.
- International Students: To my fellow international students, Arcadia is home to students from more than ten countries worldwide. Arcadia offers a wide range of programs for international students such as English language support, and IPALs (International Peer Associate Mentors) who help students to adjust to the new culture and environment. Additionally, they also offer a Conversation Partner program in which one international student pairs with one student here to learn more about the US culture and practice the English language in their daily life.
- Library and Research Support: The Landman Library has many kinds of books and spaces for students to study. Additionally, it offers research counseling with an experienced librarian who is a faculty member at Arcadia and has years of experience. You can sign up for this through here.
- Fitness: Arcadia offers different sports and a gym where students can go. It is called “Kuch Recreation and Athletic Center” where they offer a gymnasium, fitness center, strength training room, and a lot of spaces that students can utilize.
- Office of Career Education: College is a time to explore and engage while preparing for the next phase of your chapter. The Office of Career Education, located in Knight Hall, is a place where you can get a resume or cover letter reviewed, practice an interview, and learn many strategies for career success.
- Disability Support Service (DSS): DSS helps many disabled students with their daily lives and academics, such as testing accommodations. All of the disability documentation is confidential. They have a lot of stuff to help students to accommodate based on their needs.
Even though Arcadia University is a small school, it has many resources to ensure that its students are successful during their college careers and after they graduate. As an international student who is new to the U.S., I was impressed by the resources that they offer to make everyone feel warm and welcome.
