How does Arizona State University prepare for finals week? With food and puppies, of course.
Here’s a list of all the ways the most innovative university in the country helps prepare its students for the most challenging week of the year.
Disability Resource Centers
A Disability Resource Center (DRC) office is located on four of ASU’s campuses (Tempe, West, Downtown Phoenix and Polytechnic) and is equipped with testing banks, computers and quiet rooms. Those enrolled in the program have the option to take their final exams with time and a half and assisting technology. How quiet are the quiet rooms? Some are equipped with noise-canceling headphones and white-noise machines, all to ensure there are absolutely no distractions for the students taking their exams. Such accommodations aid DRC students who are in need of academic support.
“Arizona State’s DRC offers a diverse range of services for those students who register for our services,” said Diane Garvey, associate director at the DRC. “Each student that registers with the DRC is a unique individual, and so the accommodations we provide are also unique to that person.”
Finals Breakfast
The Finals Breakfast takes place on April 27 — but it’s really more of a finals dinner. Food is served at all locations between 8 and 11 p.m., free to those with an ASU ID. The Finals Breakfast also includes relaxation activates, free tutoring and giveaways.
To accommodate as many students as possible, the event locations are Taylor Place (Downtown Phoenix); Citrus Dining Pavilion (Polytechnic); Barrett Dining Hall, Hassayampa Dining Facility, Manzanita Dining Hall and Union Plaza in the Memorial Union (Tempe); and the Verde Dining Pavilion (West).
Student tutoring
In terms of tutoring, there are many student-tutors available for free to ASU students in a variety of subjects. According to Tempe student-tutor Kamal Vajram, students are given a wide array of resources when it comes to academic support.
“Since it’s finals week they [students] have a lot of problems they may need clarification on,” said Vajram. “We hold practice sessions for students and go over the problems they would see on their finals.”
Vajram says tutoring services are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.
“We tutor students both in groups and one-on-one, with all costs being covered by ASU,” he said.
For locations and more information, visit tutoring.asu.edu/tutoring.
Counseling
Counseling services are available for those who need help coping with the stress of finals week. ASU offers confidential, personal counseling for students experiencing emotional concerns, problems in adjusting, and other factors that affect their ability to achieve their academic goals.
Counseling services are available on the Tempe, West, Downtown Phoenix and Polytechnic campus between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Students are encouraged to reach out by walking into any of the four counseling services locations during business hours for a consultation, or call any one of the four numbers provided on the website.
Comfort dogs
And if talking to people is not your preferred method of handling stress, try talking to dogs! The Barrett Honors College Rest and Relax event brings several breeds for students to spend time petting and playing with. In past years, golden retrievers, Labradors, terriers and other large and small dogs have come to campus for this event. You can meet the dogs from noon to 3 p.m. Monday, May 2, on Palm Court of the Honors College Tempe complex.
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