The locations of the present centers affect the chances of students visiting one. The inconvenient locations mean the centers are not a part of the daily lives of students. Students who have busy schedules might not have enough time to make the trip to an engagement center, especially if it is far from their classroom or living space. Also, those students who do not live in the dorms are not likely to go to the dorms to receive help because they are out of the way, especially the center located in Brody Square, which is far from central campus.

Although it makes sense for students to seek more help if the engagement centers are spread throughout campus, there is no guarantee new centers will help more students. If students are not going out of their way now, there is no promise they will seek out the new centers just because they are more convenient.

On the other hand, the centers’ inconvenience doesn’t have to be the only reason more students are not visiting the centers. There are other places on campus, such as the Main Library and the classrooms in buildings, which help students more times throughout the semester than the engagement centers. The centers we have now are not worth putting more money into because there are other easily accessible help spaces that are used more.

One way students already receive help without the engagement centers is by visiting the teacher’s assistant or the professor’s office hours. Going straight to those teaching the class can be beneficial because they can offer the student specialized information to the specific class and section. Getting help about a specific class from the person actually teaching the class is a highly beneficial way to receive academic help.

Another easy and efficient way for students to get some extra help on school work is by working in a group with other students in their class. All of the dorms on campus have study lounges on each floor, or at least within walking distance. This gives students the option of getting help without even leaving their floor. Students who pay room and board expect to be funding the space in their dorm. With this in mind, it only makes sense the improvements in academic help areas should be within the dorms, such as upgrades in the study areas.

The money being used to build the two new engagement centers on campus could be applied to more advantageous renovations or additions, especially if students do not use them as much as the university thinks. The Main Library is a space used more regularly for academic help that could use the money.

The existing engagement centers have no need for improvement and are beneficial to students who use them, but the addition of two centers is not worth putting money into.