Academic Resource Center

1414 Massachusetts Avenue, Floor 3R

academicresourcecenter.harvard.edu

(617) 495-5734

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) supports the academic missions of Harvard College and the Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by helping students identify the tools they need to maximize their intellectual engagement during their time at Harvard and beyond. We are committed to empowering students to reach their full academic potential in an inclusive and equitable environment.

All College and Harvard Griffin GSAS students are welcome and can access the full range of ARC support throughout their time at Harvard. No referral is needed. Students can choose to engage with the ARC in person and virtually. They can register for all ARC services using the ARC Scheduler (arcscheduler.fas.harvard.edu). Students, faculty, and staff can get in touch with ARC staff by sending an email to academicresourcecenter@harvard.edu.

The ARC offers four main services: academic coaching; accountability groups; workshops; and peer tutoring. In collaboration with the Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct, the ARC also supports College students on academic probation and College students who receive an educational sanction for a violation of academic integrity. 

Academic Coaching

Students can meet one-on-one with an academic coach to work on optimizing their learning experience. Through structured, student-centered conversations, academic coaches introduce students to techniques for managing time, reading strategically, studying effectively, and more. They also help students prioritize their goals for the semester, identify effective work habits and ideal learning environments, and plan for when they are returning from leave or recovering from an injury or illness. ARC coaches support students from all disciplines and will direct students to other appropriate resources on campus as needed.

Accountability Groups and Accountability Hours

The ARC is committed to helping students connect with a key resource at Harvard – their fellow students. ARC coaches facilitate accountability sessions where students come to the ARC (in person or virtually) to work towards a specific goal in the company of other students. At the start of an accountability session, students set a goal and share that goal with the group. These sessions help students because they create opportunities for weekly structure, social connection, and peer motivation.

Workshops

ARC academic coaches also facilitate various workshops throughout the semester. These workshops center around building and strengthening the skills necessary to succeed academically. Workshop topics include time management, strategic reading and note-taking, semester planning, problem set strategies, and more. The ARC also works with faculty to design and deliver workshops and other materials tailored to the specific needs of the students in their courses.

Peer Tutoring

The ARC oversees the Peer Tutoring program, connecting Harvard students with a network of trained peers who can support their learning in a variety of courses. Peer Tutors can provide an extra layer of academic support for students by reviewing critical concepts and materials from class, clarifying points of confusion, and developing study strategies for upcoming exams.

Probation Support Program (PSP) 

Probation support at the ARC is designed with students and their academic needs at the center. Students on academic probation are assigned an academic coach and encouraged to participate in the PSP. In an initial one-on-one meeting, students identify what behaviors and strategies have worked well for supporting their academics in the past and where they might benefit from new approaches and strategies. Depending on the students’ goals for the semester, the coach and student might work on creating a sustainable weekly schedule, finding effective strategies for approaching courses with a lot of reading or weekly p-sets, experimenting with different study strategies, and more. Students who participate in the PSP and use the resources available to them increase their chances of having a successful semester.

For more information about the ARC or any of our services, please contact us by email and visit our website.