For students juggling jobs, families, and school, success at NWACC often depends on more than hard work. Across campus, a network of free support services – focused on academics, technology, wellness, accessibility, and community engagement – offers practical ways to make college more manageable. These resources are designed to fit the busy, cost-conscious schedules of community college students working to build a future while balancing their current reality.
Student Information Center
The Becky Paneitz Student Center is home to many resources, including the Disability Resources Center, the Dale Montgomery Counseling & Wellness Center, and the Student Information Center, among others. For those who need direction (literally), the Student Information Center team is willing to assist anyone in finding numbers, emails, or the locations of the people who manage varied resources at NWACC. Student David Camarillo said in an email, “… Whether that’s with questions over Workday, Canvas, or the general NWACC website, to locating rooms and teachers on the campus, these workers put their all into making the environment a welcoming one for students of every kind.”
NWACC Library
The NWACC Library has become a central hub for students seeking flexible academic support. There are three locations: the Pauline Walker Library (BH 1304) and Learning Commons (BH 1217) on the Benton County campus, as well as the Walker Information Commons (WC 111) on the Washington County campus. Beyond books, the library offers computer access, seating, and printers. Librarians regularly conduct workshops covering various practical topics – some recent ones include “Finding and Evaluating Sources” and “Organizing and Writing Research Arguments.” These workshops are available in-person, online, or in a hybrid format. To register for library workshops and discover the complete list of library services, visit https://library.nwacc.edu/home to learn more.
Writing Center and Workshops
The NWACC Writing Center (Learning Commons, BH 1217) is another popular place for students to visit. The Writing Center offers face-to-face consultations, writing workshops, writer resources, and email/virtual consultations. Face-to-face consultations are available in the Writing Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday. Writing workshops are offered online and in person, with virtual sessions held Tuesdays and Wednesdays at noon on Microsoft Teams, and in-person sessions covering the same topic held on Fridays at 10 a.m. in BH 1007. The center also provides documentation guides for MLA, APA, Chicago, and other everyday style guides used in academic writing. Lastly, the Writing Center also provides email/virtual consultations, allowing students to submit papers for feedback so they can make adjustments before turning them in for grading. Papers are reviewed only during the Writing Center’s open hours; consultants typically need 48 hours to review submissions. With that in mind, papers due over the weekend or early Monday must be submitted by noon on Wednesday. Visit https://www.nwacc.edu/studentsuccess/writingcenter/ to learn more about workshops, writer resources, or submit a paper for review.
Math Help
For many students, math can be intimidating. Some students are years removed from their prior math classes, while others may still be working to initially grasp a concept. The Math Center (Learning Commons, BH 1217) offers a variety of tutoring options to meet students where they are and help grow their quantitative skills. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m. to noon on Friday. Students can drop in without an appointment, though it is advised to check the schedule published on the website to confirm that the person currently working provides tutoring in the class you need help with. No need to worry about leaving something at home – the center has desktop computers, scratch paper, pencils, calculators, and textbooks you can borrow while there. Other options are still available for those who cannot attend the Math Center in person. Students can schedule an appointment with faculty tutors (online or in person), use Brainfuse (a service that provides live, on-demand tutoring), or access self-paced resources available 24/7. Visit https://library.nwacc.edu/tutoring/mathcenter to access the Math Center schedule.
Technology Needs
Technology is essential to college success, especially for students taking online or hybrid classes. NWACC offers more than 200 online classes, and students can earn nine different degrees, either 95% or 100% online. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, NWACC now requires students to have their own laptops, reflecting technology’s key role in academic success, even for in-person classes. Fortunately, the IT Help Desk is available to support students and faculty who are locked out of an account or experiencing other technical issues they cannot resolve. The IT Help Desk also provides guides for setting up multi-factor authentication, changing passwords, and accessing student email. While they cannot work on others’ personal devices, such as laptops, they can help troubleshoot issues on those devices. The IT Help Desk at NWACC can be reached at 479-619-4357 or [email protected] and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Canvas, the online learning management system used by NWACC, is supported by the Office of Digital Learning, which provides online tools and support for the platform. More information about online learning is available at https://www.nwacc.edu/academicdivisions/onlinelearning/.
Disability Resources
One of the most used resources in the student center is the Disability Resources Center, directed by Amy Robertson-Gann. Students must provide information and documentation to be eligible, such as proof of disability. Once a student is in the program, they receive accommodations to help ensure their disability won’t hold them back from receiving a quality education. Robertson-Gann noted, “For students who need the support of accommodations, what we provide is a game changer! We get student feedback continuously about how important the support the DRC provides is!” For more information, visit: https://www.nwacc.edu/disabilityservices/default.aspx.
Food Pantry
Helping students doesn’t end on campus either; NWACC’s food pantry distributes food every two weeks to those who sign up. The food pantry is directed by Cierra Collins, Director of
Student Life. The small team running the pantry strives to ensure students can take home well-balanced, nutritious food, while keeping those who use this resource completely anonymous. There are emergency food bags for those in need, as well as Pop-Up Pantries once a month that serve more perishable food items. Collins said, “We have a lot of students that face food insecurity […] so I definitely think this is a big beneficial part of the student life, the environment, and the culture of the college.” Visit https://www.nwacc.edu/studentservices/healthandwellbeing/foodclothing.html to learn more.
Clubs and Organizations
NWACC also offers a variety of clubs and organizations for those looking to find a community at NWACC. A list of registered student organizations can be found at https://www.nwacc.edu/campuslife/registeredclubsorganizations/default.aspx
PRIDE at NWACC is one of the clubs and organizations serving students. This is a student-led organization that strives to meet every Monday or Wednesday. Even though this is a student-led operation, NWACC members still help ensure everything runs smoothly. Sharon Fox is one of the PRIDE advisers at NWACC. She helps make sure that everything, including snacks during meetings, is available and helps organize on-campus events like the Life Transitions Closet for those who need new clothes, Fox said, “I love that PRIDE at NWACC is about service [and] about helping the entire community with what they’re going through. Additional information can be found at: https://www.nwacc.edu/campuslife/registeredclubsorganizations/prideofnwacc.aspx.
Student Success
NWACC’s free resources make it easier for students to manage busy schedules without feeling like they have to do it all alone. Whether you need a quiet study space, writing feedback, or simply someone to point you in the right direction, support is always within reach. Taking advantage of these tools can help students not only get through a semester but also build confidence and strategies that last long after graduation. To explore more tools and services available beyond those mentioned here, visit the Student Success page at https://www.nwacc.edu/studentsuccess/default.aspx.
