Resources is a term that one may hear around IVCC, but what does it really mean? How does one know where to find resources or if they are eligible for them?
As students begin their academic journey at IVCC or return after a hiatus, the term resources may appear in a student’s syllabus, on college flyers or heard vocally. IVCC offers different resources, also known as services, to its students and supports their needs while attending college.
Some of these services include Transformative Growth, Tutoring, Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity, Student Success and Project Success/TRiO. These examples included licensed therapy located on campus, one-on-one or group tutoring, disability and accommodation assistance, support for non-academic related concerns and support for first generation, disability, and low-income students in a counseling setting.
College can be a very difficult time to traverse for students: unexpected life changes, emotional or mental overload, language barriers, social awkwardness or feeling alone. All of these experiences can be very real and create barriers for students that can take precedence over academic focus.
Fear can play a major role in students not finding or connecting with IVCC’s resources even though they are considered accessible and free. Fear can take the form of judgment, social awkwardness, worry or not having a voice yet to advocate for oneself.
Luckily, multiple departments within IVCC have worked together to raise awareness of what they have to offer students. During the first week of classes for example, IVCC professors may bring their students on campus tours through the Academic Support Center to explain the existence of Tutoring, Jacobs Library, Student Learning Technologies, and the Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity.
There also are events where each field of study department sets up tables to showcase what academic pathways are available at IVCC. Alongside these field-specific departments, there are tables for IVCC resources as well.
Most teaching syllabi include locations and a brief overview of some of the available resources, but not all. Future issues of the IV Leader will include a myriad of IVCC’s resources.
IV Leader strives to assist in raising awareness of free and accessible resources that IVCC has to offer, by connecting its students and employees with the right contact. Information about resources is coming soon!