This semester, Arkansas State took on 14,903 student enrollees. So many students walk across campus every day but it seems that only a small percentage of them make use of the free resources available to them.

If students do not make an effort to use these resources, they are essentially throwing money away, because their tuition pays for them regardless. 

Specific free resources available to students at A-State include the gym, tutoring and counseling. 

In my opinion, if you are already paying for these things, you may as well give them a try. Students becoming more active in the campus community and taking advantage of the provided resources on campus can only improve their college experience. 

To get an opinion from the student body, I went out and interviewed a few fellow students to get their thoughts on the free resources available to us. 

Tiara Trotter, a first-year student majoring in mechanical engineering, said:

“I know that I could go to the gym for free, but I haven’t gone yet. I know that they have free tutoring, but I just haven’t needed it.” 

This is likely the most common reason these resources go unused. A lot of students either don’t need them, or don’t have the time to use them. Students’ schedules are jam packed, making them unable to take advantage of helpful resources around campus. 

Some do take advantage of these though. Andre Leon, a junior international business major from West Bloomfield, Michigan, said he often uses these benefits;

“I go to the counseling center every once in a while. I do go to the gym, even if it may not look like it. Tutoring is probably the only thing I don’t use, because I guess I like to challenge myself.” 

Tutoring is one of the most valuable resources included with tuition by Arkansas State. Tutoring offers a one on one environment that is incredibly effective for understanding complex material and practicing at one’s own pace. Tutoring in a subject that a student is struggling with could be the difference between passing and failing that course. 

Senior animal science major Lilliana Newton from Little Rock said that she would use more of her resources if she knew about all of them. 

“Sometimes I use the gym when our class does something there. I use the study areas and the printers… I would say that I would use them if I knew about them. Maybe not all, but most.” 

One way to increase the number of students making use of these benefits is by making more announcements about what is available to students on campus. Campus workers like financial aid counselors, treasurers, RA’s and tutors should promote the many academic resources provided with tuition payments. 

Red Wolf Center employees should be sure to let everyone know of gym hours, and all the activities available in the center. This can be promoting intramural sports, fitness programs, and maybe job opportunities.

Announcements and reminders would go a long way for the A-State student body. The more students that are aware of these resources and actively make use of them, the better off our student body will be. 

Categories: Opinion