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Eastern University Academic Resource Center (ARC)

Eastern University’s Academic Resource Center (ARC) is a centralized, student-centered hub designed to support academic growth, persistence, and confidence. The ARC integrates key academic support services—including academic coaching, tutoring, writing support, testing services, ACT 101, and the Equip Summer Bridge Program—into a coordinated ecosystem that meets students where they are and supports them throughout their academic journey.

Why Eastern University Was Selected

Eastern University’s ARC was selected as ACTP’s Success Center of the Month for its intentional expansion of academic coaching, commitment to holistic student support, and innovative program design that serves traditional, adult, online, and first-generation learners.
Over the past year, Eastern’s academic coaching program has evolved from a single-coach model into a multi-layered coaching ecosystem that emphasizes skill development, self-efficacy, and student agency.

Coaching Program Growth & Innovation

The ARC’s academic coaching model now includes:

  • Two full-time professional academic coaches
  • Twenty trained peer academic coaches
  • A dedicated LifeFlex online coach supporting adult and nontraditional learners
  • A Parent Pathway coach strengthening family engagement
  • A writing assistant embedded within coaching services

This team-based structure allows Eastern to deliver personalized, developmentally appropriate coaching that supports students at multiple entry points and stages of their academic experience.

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Spotlight Program: Equip Summer Bridge

The ARC recently redesigned the Equip Summer Bridge Program to better support incoming students’ transition to college.
As a result of this redesign, the program experienced nearly double the student participation, strengthening academic readiness, confidence, and early engagement before the fall semester begins.

Supporting Online & Adult Learners

Through its LifeFlex online coaching model, the ARC ensures that adult and distance learners receive consistent, personalized support—bridging the gap for students balancing coursework with work, family, and other responsibilities.

Featured Quote

“Academic coaching is not about fixing students—it’s about restoring confidence, building agency, and helping students learn how to learn. Whether we are integrating coaching, community, or emerging tools like AI, our goal is always the same: to preserve students’ humanity while equipping them with skills that lead to persistence, purpose, and success.”
— Martina Lewis-Mitchell
ACT 101 Manager, Academic Coaching Coordinator, & Equip Summer Bridge Program Coordinator

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What the Academic Resource Center Provides

The ARC serves as a comprehensive academic support hub offering:

  • Academic Coaching focused on time management, study strategies, metacognition, resilience, and academic confidence
  • Tutoring Services in high-demand subject areas
  • Writing Center support across disciplines
  • Testing Services for placement, proctoring, and accommodations
  • ACT 101 programming for first-generation and underrepresented students
  • Equip Summer Bridge Program to support college readiness and transition

Academic Resource Center (ARC) Eastern University

đź“Ť St. Davids, Pennsylvania

Director: Dr. John Nordlof
Email: jnordlof@eastern.edu
Phone: (610) 341-1453

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ACTP Recognition

Through collaborative leadership, expanded coaching capacity, and a strong commitment to student persistence, Eastern University’s Academic Resource Center exemplifies best practices in academic coaching and learning support—making it a standout selection for ACTP’s Success Center of the Month.

Martina Mitchell, MDiv. Act 101 Manager/Academic Coaching Coordinator Equip Summer Bridge Program Coordinator