The last month of the spring semester is underway as students begin studying, researching and mentally preparing for final exams or projects. The feeling of stress and anxiety hovers over the American River College campus as we prepare to relish the lack of academic responsibilities over summer break. However, until we are able to say goodbye to our lecture notes, scantrons and Canvas dashboards, students and staff are working overtime to have a successful last month at ARC. 

Unfortunately, the campus operational hours for resources that may help students and staff be successful are limited to specific time slots during the week. While the mainstream operation hours assist those with simpler schedules, the hours also exclude those students and staff that have afternoon or evening classes from resources offered on campus. 

The average number of students who attend evening classes at the ARC campus are between 600 and 800 students throughout the week, according to Kaitlyn Collignon, ARC public information officer. 

While it might be difficult and excessive for the ARC administration to extend campus resource operation hours until the last class of the day, it is feasible to extend hours until 6 p.m. to give evening students the same accessibility as students have in the morning. 

The hours set in place currently during the 2025 spring semester have been set after various vendors have constructed assessments to align the open hours with most service provided and to stay cost efficient, Collignon said in an email. 

However, with the significant number of students that attend evening classes at ARC it is important that we have accessibility to resources for as many people as possible. 

One major resource those on campus in the evening miss out on are access to food and drinks that are served on the ARC campus. The cafeteria and the oasis coffee bar located in the student center do not function within normal operating hours. The cafeteria operates from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closes 30 minutes earlier on Friday, while the oasis coffee bar hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and closes an hour earlier at 2 p.m. on Friday, according to ARC Campus Life, a campus webpage that details operating hours for campus food options. 

As we are in exam season it is important that we keep our energy up and help our minds stay focused as much as possible. One way of doing that is by eating nutritional meals, according to the BBC. 

The cafeteria offers a range of meals for students whether they are craving pizza, sushi or even some crispy chicken tenders. Beverages are also offered such as fountain drinks or bottled for whatever students may need to stay hydrated. 

The other resource is the oasis coffee bar that serves Starbucks drinks to student and staff caffeine junkies throughout the mornings. From matcha lattes to plain americanos, the coffee bar has something for each student to provide an energy boost. 

According to The Study Journal, 92% of college students drink coffee regularly, and it’s not just an addiction solely for the taste, but the effects the caffeine brings. Caffeine blocks a substance that makes us feel tired called adenosine which helps students and staff stay focused, increases alertness and enhances memory retraction. 

Without these resources for students and staff on campus later in the day, it can make time feel like it’s dragging on and energy drives can be lost. Food and caffeine help everyone at ARC remain focused and determined as we approach the finish line for the spring semester. 

However, the lack of operational hours doesn’t stop there, this also goes for the campus library, where many students go to study. With studying being essential at this time of the year with finals coming up, many students are inconvenienced due to the hours of operation. The library offers many resources for students to use at their benefit. Many students prefer studying in libraries due to the resources, quiet atmosphere and more structured environments. 

While having limited operating hours such as being closed on weekends and closing early in the evening, many students have to look elsewhere for studying spots, not giving them the resources they may need. 

If campus operations extend hours, or simply on weekends for a while, this could open up more opportunities for students to use resources, or whatever they may need. This will lead to students being more prepared for their finals.

For more articles from Abigail Harless and Josh Zezzo follow their Instagrams @the_psychedelic_brunette and @zezzo.media.