Grace Ostrosky, Arts and Life Editor–

​​It used to be the Academic Enrichment Center and was located in Doane Hall. Now, it is known as the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and is located on the basement level of Higley Hall.

This is also home to the Communications and Economics departments along with the Office for First-Year Experience. It is centrally located on campus to help provide equal access to students. 

“ARC is dedicated to helping students thrive academically by providing a range of support services,” said Victoria Emerine, Program Coordinator and Interim Assistant Director of ARC. 

“Not only are we here to assist students with accessibility and disability needs and ensure their accommodations are in place but we’re also here to be a support for any student on campus.”

The office also assists students with skills building, such as time management and organization, to help them thrive academically. 

They also serve as a “supplemental advisor” to students with accommodations.

Emerine also discussed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in any program receiving federal financial assistance. In accordance with this act, ARC sends letters to different departments on campus to inform them of a student’s accommodations and their legal rights to these accommodations. 

“It is my No. 1 goal to get absolute transparency and collaboration between the other departments on campus and who [it] is necessary to build…relationship[s] with,” Emerine said when asked about claims of miscommunication between ARC and other offices on campus. 

“In the past, there hasn’t been much collaboration between other departments…but now ARC is front and center to all accommodations on campus…so, [we are] just trying to make sure [we are] communicating with all parties involved [in providing accommodations].”

For instance, ARC is currently working with the University Communications team, Campus Safety, and Housing and Facilities to create an accessible interactive map on Denison’s website to highlight where there are stairs, rough terrain, and where the ground may be slippery if wet.

Emerine said “it [is not] a lack of wanting [to assist students], [it is] a lack of budget.” Just like any other department on campus, ARC has a budget.

The Denison Disability Advocacy Association (DDAA) acknowledges the challenges facing students with disabilities. President of DDAA, Ella Snyder ‘27, explained that the mission of DDAA is to “raise awareness around disability rights and disability issues on campus.” 

They also hope to educate students, faculty, and staff with how current policies being enacted are impacting students with disabilities.

When asked what issues students with disabilities are facing on campus, Snyder said that “there needs to be better communication” between ARC and other departments on campus.

She then added that Denison’s campus is not physically accessible for all students.

“We are on a hill, so there are some things that are unavoidable,” Snyder said, “but we are working to find as many possible workarounds to make sure everyone has equal opportunity.”

For instance, DDAA works with facilities to ensure that elevators are operating in buildings with many stairs and that in winter sidewalks are salted to prevent slipping. They communicate students’ needs to act as another resource for advocacy. 

DDAA is also working on creating a campus-wide shuttle system to bring a more reliable source of transportation to students with disabilities. They have mapped out the route and are in talks with administration. 

Once again, the challenge is the budget.

Snyder also noted that there have been cut backs on what many deem “essential services.”

“Denison is a private university,” Snyder said. “They clearly have…money…where is it getting spent? While those considerations I’m sure are carefully weighed, I think sometimes things slip through the cracks as to what is considered necessary.”