Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the mission of the Advocacy & Resource Center?

The mission of the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) is to promote a Culture of Caring at Texas State Technical College. We are dedicated to addressing student-defined needs, eliminating barriers, and providing Texas-Sized Care to help our students reach success.

Where can students find the Request for ARC Support?

Students can request ARC support by visiting tstc.edu/arc. The request form can be accessed through the main ARC page or by navigating to the “Request ARC Support” tab. 

What do I do if my situation is urgent? 

In case of an emergency: call 9-1-1. 

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: dial 9-8-8.

National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 800-799-7233

For urgent basic needs such as homelessness or food insecurity, contact your local ARC Team Member and inform them of your situation.

What services can students receive through the Advocacy & Resource Center?

The Advocacy & Resource Center supports students through basic needs case management. Our services include campus food pantries, community resource referrals, Helping Hands funds for basic needs, transportation assistance stipends, child care assistance stipends, and a lending library for book and tool loans. 

What does the process look like for a student to receive support from ARC?

First, a student should submit a request for support. They will then be contacted by an Advocacy & Resource Center team member. The ARC team member will schedule an intake meeting with the student in order to assess their needs and identify resources and services that will support the student. The ARC team member will then work with the student to implement these supports. 

Where can I find contact information for the Advocacy & Resource Center team?

Visit the ARC Team tab to find contact information for your ARC Team Member. 

Is there a list of resources available for students? 

Yes, visit the Community Connections tab for a list of community resources in your area. 

What requirements does a student need to meet to be eligible for ARC services?

Based on the specific service or program, different eligibility criteria may exist. See below. 

Do students have to have a certain GPA to be eligible for ARC Services? 

To receive Helping Hands funds, Students cannot be on academic or financial aid suspension. ARC will review all requests to ensure awarding the student would be a responsible use of funds. Academic progress, class attendance, graduation date, etc will be considered. 

For grant-funded services such as transportation assistance stipends, child care assistance stipends, and our Lending Library for books/tools, a minimum 2.0 GPA is required. 

There is no minimum GPA for food pantry use. 

Does a student have to be a full-time student to be eligible for assistance? 

No, but grant-funded programs such as child care and transportation stipend assistance as well as the lending library do require a student to be enrolled in at least six hours. For any of our services, they cannot be a TSTC employee, even if they are enrolled in classes (this does not apply to student workers).

Is Helping Hands funding guaranteed to all students who submit a request for ARC support?

No, funds are never guaranteed. However, a “no” to funds is not a “no” to support. Every application will be evaluated by an ARC team member and discussed in depth with the student to determine need. After the initial consultation/intake with a student, the ARC team member and the student will work together to explore options, resources, and services that can help meet the student’s needs. This could include community resources, ARC Services, and/or other TSTC supports and services. Helping Hands funds are designed to address specific basic needs expenses and other needs that might otherwise prevent a student from continuing their program. If Helping Hands funds are not the best fit to help a student with their request, alternative services or options will be offered instead. 

Can Helping Hands funds be awarded to buy books and tools or a laptop?

Every application will be reviewed by an ARC team member to determine a student’s needs and eligibility. In order to align with enrollment department processes, ARC can only assist with educational materials such as books, tools, and laptops once all other resources have been exhausted. This includes ARC Lending Library eligibility, EOS Funds, and Financial Aid such as loans and grants. 

What types of needs can Helping Hands funds be awarded for?

Helping Hands funds are designed to address specific basic needs expenses and other needs that might otherwise prevent a student from continuing their program. Examples of these expenses could include: housing, utilities, food (can include meal plans), hygiene, educational materials if all other options have been exhausted, transportation, certain medical expenses impacting a student’s ability to stay enrolled, and emergency situations such as natural-disaster-related urgent needs. 

What types of expenses can Helping Hands funds not cover?

Helping Hands cannot be awarded for expenses not directly related to a student’s ability to stay enrolled. Examples of excluded expenses include: balances from receiving all failing grades, fines or late fees such as housing fines or citations, credit card bills, non-essential travel, expenses that will occur after program completion, routine or preventative medical care such as checkups, cleanings, physicals, elective or cosmetic procedures, or ongoing treatment not tied to immediate academic impact.

Are students required to submit documentation to ARC?

Yes, documentation will be required for every request for assistance received. The Advocacy & Resource Center team member will work with the student to determine relevant and acceptable documentation that verifies the student’s need. 

How many times per semester can students request support and what is the maximum amount of funds a student can receive? 

Students are encouraged to submit a request for ARC support anytime they are facing barriers to meeting their basic needs. This does not guarantee they will be eligible to receive Helping Hands funds, but the ARC team will always work to support the student through our basic needs case management process. 

Helping Hands funds are designed to address specific basic needs expenses and other needs that might 

otherwise prevent a student from continuing their program. Every application will be evaluated by an ARC team member and discussed in depth with the student to determine need. With that being said, there are amount guidelines in place, and students will be notified if they are ineligible to receive additional funding. In this case, ARC will work with the student further to identify alternative support resources. 

When and how will students receive their funds? 

Funds will go to the student’s Tech One Card, unless an alternate refund preference is on file for the student. Disbursements are made twice weekly, so a student should typically receive their funds within one week or less once awarded. Student Accounting can help answer questions related to a student's Helping Hands award disbursement. 

How will a student know if they are awarded Helping Hands funds?

If a student is awarded Helping Hands funds, the ARC team member will inform the student of the awarded amount. Students can also check their account summary in Workday or check their Techone card balance. If a student is denied funding, they will also be notified and the ARC team member will work with the student further to identify additional support resources.

Do students pay back Helping Hands Funds? 

No, these are considered scholarship funds. 

Where is the Advocacy & Resource Center located? 

Abilene: Highway 80 Campus, located at 650 E. Highway 80, Room 144. 

Breckenridge (Food Pantry): Main Building, located at 305 Booker Street. Contact Kati Bewley for ARC support.

Brownwood (Food Pantry): Main Building, located at 307 N. Breckenridge Avenue. Contact Jacob Salas for ARC support.

Fort Bend: ITC 2nd Floor, Suite 234 (Food Market located at ITC 1st Floor, Room 128)

Harlingen: Student Center (SC) rooms 123-127

Williamson County (Food Pantry): Retention Services Suite, 1st Floor (Inside HVAC Lab). Contact Maegan Bennight for ARC Support.

Marshall: Housing Commons Building H, Room 101

North Texas: Industrial Technology Center, Room 121

Sweetwater: Sweetwater Campus Student Center, Room 106

Waco: Student Services Building, Rooms 132-137

New Braunfels (Food Pantry): Student Lounge. Contact Larissa Moreno for ARC Support.

Services for Students Who Are The Parent or Guardian of a Child Younger than 18 Years of Age
ARC staff members serve as liaison officers for current or incoming students at TSTC who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 year of age. ARC can provide information to students regarding support services and other resources available to students at the institution including, but not limited to:

• Child Care Referrals.

• Child Care Assistance Stipends (services are contingent to meeting the qualifications for each respective campus and child care servicing agency).

• Transportation Assistance and/or referrals.

• Resource referrals for medical and behavioral health coverage and services.

• Referrals to and assistance applying for public benefit programs, including programs related to food security, affordable housing and housing subsidies.

• Referrals to other support services offered by TSTC, such as tutoring, mentoring, counseling and more.

• Referrals for employment assistance.

• Other ARC services and referrals that can support the student's needs.

Services for Students Who Were Formerly in the Conservatorship of DFPS
ARC staff members serve as liaison officers for current and incoming students at TSTC who were formerly in the conservatorship of DFPS. ARC can provide information regarding support services and other resources available to the students at the institution and any other relevant information including, but not limited to:

• Referrals to the DFPS PAL caseworker for their region.

• Assistance navigating the foster care tuition waiver process.

• Referrals for scholarships.

• Emergency aid specifically for students who have been in foster care.

• Referrals to and assistance applying for public benefit programs, including programs related to food security, affordable housing and housing subsidies.

• Referrals to other support services offered by TSTC, such as tutoring, mentoring, counseling and more.

• Other ARC services and referrals that can support the student's needs.