Located in the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation, the Athletic Academic Resource Center (AARC) is a support center for Stanford varsity athletes.  Equipped with a computer cluster, large study tables and comfortable seating, the AARC is a natural gathering place for student-athletes who come for academic advising, to study, to check e-mail or course assignments on line, be tutored, or to relax between class time and practice.

The AARC is staffed by the Academic Director for Student-Athletes and the Assistant Academic Director for Student-Athletes.  The two work as a team in advising student-athletes and coordinating the Partners for Academic Excellence (PAE) program.

The goal of the AARC is to help each Stanford student-athlete realize their full academic potential.  The AARC provides the following services for student-athletes: Study Table, Tutoring, Advising/Counseling, Computer Access, and Partners for Academic Excellence (PAE).

Study Table
During the academic year the AARC provides a study table open to all Stanford student-athletes.  On hand at study table are experienced math, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, and writing tutors ready to assist athletes with any of their academic needs.

Tutoring
The AARC staff coordinates a tutoring program which provides student-athletes with help for most classes in which they could use assistance.  The tutors are graduates or upper-class students who are available to help Stanford student-athletes achieve their academic goals.

Computer Access
The AARC has 14 Macintosh G4's and one PC available during regular AARC hours.  The AARC is also a "hot spot" where students with wireless capability on their laptops can access the internet.  Twelve Macintosh lap-top computers and one PC lap-top computer are available for check-out by student-athletes on a first-come, first-served basis for use during road trips for Stanford competitions.

Advising/Counseling
The AARC staff provides students with both short and long-term academic counseling and serves as a back-up to the student's assigned advisor.

Short-term:

• Help students choose classes, and provide information on professors and the workload and level of difficulty of classes;
• Aid student-athletes in scheduling classes around practice and game schedules;
• Provide assistance should conflicts arise with exams and competition.

• Help students choose majors that are consistent with their interests and goals, and help ensure that they fulfill their requirements and are on course to graduate in four years;
• Offer guidance about graduate and professional school opportunities and career planning.

PAE - Partners for Academic Excellence
Co-sponsored by Undergraduate Advising and Research (UAR) and the Athletic Department, PAE assists Stanford student-athletes in managing their demanding schedules and in utilizing their limited free time efficiently to ensure academic excellence.  By grouping several student-athletes together from different sports based on a similar preliminary academic interest, the PAE program focuses on creating an academic community for specific first-year students.  Each group has an undergraduate mentor and a graduate student mentor, which are likely to be current and former student-athletes.  During the autumn quarter, PAE participants meet weekly as a study group to assist with the transition from high school to university study.  In the winter, the groups more actively explore academics resources.  Dinners with faculty members and Stanford alums who may share an academic or career interest are also part of the program.  Freshmen have the opportunity, in a relaxed informal setting, to meet and talk with faculty who may otherwise be hard to approach.  First-year student-athletes have the option of earning one-unit of academic credit for participation in the PAE program by completing course requirements that encourage students to take advantage of the numerous academic resources that will be beneficial to their Stanford career.