CAROLINA COMMUNITY

The office of the vice president/vice provost is the central office for the Division of Student Affairs and Department of Academic Support, which includes Student Development and University Housing, Student Life, Student Success Initiatives, University 101 and the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition, International Programs, Enrollment Management, Fellowships and Scholar Programs, Pre-Professional Advising, and Development.

The central office coordinates all division and department finance and personnel matters, public relations efforts, assessment, and strategic planning. The office also leads emergency preparedness and response and offers information technology and student ombuds services.

Student Financial Aid & Scholarships
1714 College Street
777-8134
www.sc.edu/financialaid/
uscfaid@sc.edu

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is responsible for providing assistance, education, and support for prospective and current students and their families in securing the financial aid they need to attend USC. The Office is also responsible for the coordination of all aid resources that USC students receive, including scholarships, grants, loans, and need-based student employment. The Office provides leadership to the University community in gaining and administering the necessary funds that students are eligible to receive. Students and their families may receive counseling to determine the best financial related options for their situation and how to secure these opportunities.

Admissions
Lieber College (Horseshoe)
777-7700
www.sc.edu/admissions/
admissions-ugrad@sc.edu

The Office of Admissions processes applications, produces transfer credit summaries, maintains permanent records, and determines NCAA eligibility certification. In addition, the admissions office actively recruits students to USC Columbia through visits to high schools and mailings.
The admissions office also coordinates recruitment for the SC Honors College and most freshman scholarship programs. Finally, the admissions office offers on-campus interviews and admissions counseling to prospective students and their families.

Orientation & Testing
Russell House, Room 345
777-2780
www.orientation.sc.edu
uscorientation@mailbox.sc.edu

This office coordinates Summer Orientation programs to acclimate new students and their parents to the USC Columbia campus, as well as abbreviated fall and spring programs for students only. Student leaders are selected to serve as orientation leaders. Testing Services offers placement testing to new students in the spring and prior to Orientation sessions. Throughout the calendar year, they also offer computerized graduate admission and teacher certification exams and other standardized tests to students and non-students, as well as opportunities for earning course credit by examination through the CLEP program.

Career Center
B.A. Building - 6th floor
777-7280
www.sc.edu/career/
career@sc.edu

The Career Center serves as a comprehensive career information center providing programs to enhance the career development of college bound high school students, currently enrolled USC students, faculty, staff and alumni. The Career Center provides counseling and testing to help students with career clarification along with opportunities to gain career related work experience, explore career goals, develop marketable skills, and make contact with employers for part and full time employment. The Career Center facilitates communication among employers, faculty, and students concerning employment and enrollment trends.

The Visitor Center serves as the front door of the University, greeting visitors and providing campus tours and programs and services to enhance their experience on campus. The Center showcases the University’s rich history and vital student life along with its teaching, research and public service functions. Throughout the Center, visitors may be actively involved in a variety of media presentations that feature faculty, programs, services, and undergraduate student initiatives. Student Ambassadors join the staff of the Visitor Center to provide answers to questions about the campus, host services, and directions to various offices and services on campus.

International Programs for Students
Byrnes Building, Room 123
777-7461
www.sc.edu/ips/

International Student Services provides a wide range of services for international students, including pre-arrival information, orientation programs, immigration advising, personal assistance, and student programs and activities. The office is staffed by professionals with specialized training and expertise in working with international students.

Study Abroad Programs offers a great variety of student abroad and exchange opportunities for students who wish to study in another country. Overseas study programs are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. The length of the study abroad program may be for the academic year, one semester, or a short-term program during the summer. The International Programs office provides guidance to students considering study abroad and maintains a resource library with information about program offerings and financial aid.

The Office of Veterans Services provides advocacy, financial assistance, and developmental support for veterans, active duty military, reserves/guard members, and dependents during their enrollment at the University. The office encourages the maximum use of VA benefits within federal guidelines, and aids in the resolution of any problem which might arise in a VA student’s relations with the University or the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

University Housing creates a living and learning community that promotes the academic success and personal development of students. Through partnerships with faculty and staff across campus, we offer activities, services, and facilities designed to assist students in achieving their goals. We are committed to enhancing the quality of life among residents by providing comfortable, affordable, well-maintained residences along with opportunities for active community involvement and leadership. With the Carolinian Creed as our foundation, we strive to empower students to create communities in which individual rights and responsibilities are respected.

If a student has questions or concerns about any aspect of campus housing, our staff is eager to answer them and seek positive solutions.

Office of Student Judicial Programs
Byrnes Building, 2nd Floor
777-4333
www.sa.sc.edu/osjp

Student Disability Services LeConte, Room 106
777-6142

Student Disability Services offers many programs and opportunities for students to enhance their academic experiences.

Student Health Services
Thomson Student Health Center
777-3174
www.sa.sc.edu/shs

Student Health Services provides medical, mental health, and health education services and programs that are designed to: meet the primary health needs of students; enhance the personal growth and development of students, and support other University missions and goals. Student Health Services meets these responsibilities by operating several major service organizations:

Thomson Student Health Center (TSHC) (777-3174):
THSC is located directly behind the Russell House. TSHC, one of some 150 nationally accredited university student health centers, is staffed by board certified or board eligible physicians, four certified nurse practitioners, registered nurses, most of whom are certified in college health nursing, and ancillary staff members, including registered pharmacists, laboratory and radiology technologists.

� TSHC is open daily, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm on Sundays. TSHC is closed on University holidays.

� No inpatient, overnight or after-hours services are available. An EMT qualified First Responder is on duty when the Health Center is closed to assist students who need emergency treatment.

� Daily clinics at TSHC include General Medicine and Women�s Care. Ancillary services include pharmacy, diagnostic radiology, clinical laboratory, physical therapy, and travel, immunization and allergy injection services.

� Students are expected to make appointments to meet routine or other non-urgent requirements, to include non-acute illness, health screening and testing, physical examinations, and information and advice pertaining to lifestyle and behavioral matters. Acute illness and injuries are seen on a walk-in basis.

� Students are encouraged to initially seek medical care at TSHC. If a medical need cannot be appropriately managed at TSHC, a referral will be made to a local specialist or hospital, or other provider requested by the patient.

Counseling and Human Development Center (CHDC) (777-5223): CHDC is located on-campus in the Byrnes Building, 7th Floor. CHDC is a fully accredited counseling center and offers outpatient psychiatric intervention; psychological services that include individual, couple, family, and group counseling, biofeedback , psychological testing services, and educational and consultative outreach programs. CHDC also operates one of the few University-based psychology PhD intern programs that are nationally accredited by the American Psychological Association. Permanent clinical staff includes PhD psychologists, a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

� Students who need inpatient care, extended outpatient services, or other clinical care that exceeds the capabilities of CHDC, are referred to community providers of the patient�s choice.

� Professional staff clinical evaluation and management services are free (up to 12 visits annually) to all students who have paid the Health Fee portion of the University Fee. These services are provided on a fee-for-service basis for all other students.

� CHDC is open daily, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except on University holidays. Appointments are required except for acute or urgent situations.

Campus Wellness Promotion is located on the ground level of the Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center. Campus Wellness Promotion offers a variety of services designed to enhance the health and wellness of the University community. This Office offers highly visible, convenient, and accessible services and programs which provide students instruction, information, assistance, and guidance designed to provide them the opportunity to live at high levels of wellness and strive for optimal health.

� The Campus Wellness staff consists of two permanent staff members, graduate assistants, and groups of peer health educators (students who have been trained specifically on college health issues).

� This staff provides services, programs, and information on all aspects of health. These include: body image, eating disorders, exercise, nutrition, self-esteem, stress management, smoking cessation, health screening and testing, weight management, and focus programs addressing health issues of particular interest to minorities.

� Most of the services are available to students at no cost. For more information, go to the Student Health Services website at http://www.sa.sc.edu/shs or call Campus Wellness at 576-9393.

� Faculty, and staff can also access programs and services through Faculty/Staff Wellness Promotion at the Blatt PE Center (777-6518).

Sexual Health & Violence Prevention and Research (SH&VP)
Thomson Student Health Center, First Floor
(803)777-8248
http://www/sa/sc/edu/shs/shvp.asp

This office provides comprehensive programs and services for USC�s campus which address the concerns of sexual health, sexual assault, and relationship violence. Sexual Health & Violence Prevention and Research (SH&VP) is staffed bya Director, an Associate Director, two Program Coordinates, SHARE peer health educators, Changing Carolina: Men Can Make A Difference peers, Social Work Interns, and Graduate Assistants. Major activities are summarized as follows:

� Sexual Health Programs: Provides educational programs for the University community and individual consultation about sexual health, sexually transmitted infections and healthy relationships; develops campus-wide campaigns to raise awareness of sexual health concerns; provides targeted education to reach the special needs of a diverse student population. Additionally, SH&VP provides instructions to first year students through affiliation with the University 101 course.

� Sexual Violence and Relationship Violence Programs: Serves the University community by educating students, faculty, and staff about issues related to sexual assault , relationship violence, and stalking risk reduction strategies; 24-hour crisis intervention and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and drug-facilitated crime. Also offers accompaniment to the emergency room; provides accompaniment through criminal and student judicial processes; facilitates interpesonal violence survivors' groups, offers academic assistance, and provides other services and referrals as needed.

� Safe Zone Program: Provides training for members of the University community to become a Safe Zone Ally - a member of the USC Community committed to fighting homophobia and heterosexism, offering visible support to members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered population. Provides interested members with information, resources, guidance, and opportunities to support students of this often marginalized population.

� Awareness Campaigns:
- Domestic Violence Awareness Week
- Sexual Assault Awareness Week
- Stalking Awareness Week
- World AIDS Day
- Sexual Responsiblity Week
- Homophobia Awareness Week

� Emergency Contact: SH&VP staff are available during business hours Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM at (803)777-8248 and the on-call SH&VP advocate can be reached after hours through USC Police Department's Dispatch at (803)777-4215.

As the student center for the USC Columbia campus, the Russell House University Union is home to the many services that students often use. There are many different food service operations located throughout the building: FTaco Bell, Chick-Fil-A, Pizza Hut, and the Grand Marketplace. Located on the first floor is the Russell House Bookstore and Carolina Styles. Student mailboxes and package pickup are also located in the union.

The Union administration, located on the second floor, provides a variety of services and involvement opportunities for students and organizations. The student program board, Carolina Productions, is based out of the Program Office and coordinates many campus events including cultural festivals, movies, speakers, Homecoming, Spirit Week, and concerts. The Russell House Events Services staff provides quality conference facilities and services to student organizations for meetings and social events upon a reservation. Groups may also rent audio and visual equipment to enhance those events held in the Russell House. The Russell House Information Center offers photocopy, fax, and a poster making service at low prices. Books of stamps are also sold at face value. Also located at the Russell House Information Center are the Off-Campus Housing Service notebooks and a Capitol Ticket outlet, giving customers the convenience to purchase tickets for events at a wide range of venues.

The Office of Student Media is comprised of The Gamecock newspaper, Garnet & Black magazine, and WUSC-FM radio station. The Gamecock is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the fall and spring semesters. Garnet & Black is published three times a year. WUSC-FM broadcasts nearly 365 days a year at 90.5 FM, with a broadcast radius of approximately 30 miles at 2,500 watts. Each medium is a student organization offering valuable experience to all interested students, regardless of major or experience. Located on the third floor of the Russell House, the Office of Student Media welcomes all students interested in broadcasting or any aspect of print journalism. For more information, contact us at (803)777-3888.

Located in the Blatt Physical Education Center, the Office of Campus Recreation offers many activities and programs to students, faculty, and staff throughout the year. Facilities include racquetball, handball, and squash courts, tennis courts, indoor basketball courts, dance studios, an indoor swimming pool and diving well, athletic fields, a sand volleyball court, weight rooms, an aerobic studio, and stationary aerobic equipment. Recreation areas and facilities are open for free play when there are no scheduled activities. Students may also reserve facilities and check out sports equipment from Equipment Issue.

To insure security of our participants, all students, faculty, and staff of the University must present a valid identification card to be admitted to the Blatt PE Center and to participate in the Campus Recreation programs. Guests of students, faculty, and staff members are entitled to use the center, two guests per member per visit. Every guest is required to pay a guest fee and must have a driver’s license or picture ID and must sign a register with the host. Each host is responsible for his or her guest and must stay with the guest at all times.

The center maintains locker rooms for both men and women. Daily lockers are available for use free of charge to students, faculty, staff, and guests (alumni users are considered guests). Locks must be supplied by the user. Daily lockers must be cleared out prior to the building closing. Lockers may also be rented on a semester or annual basis. Locker rental includes a locker, lock, and towel service. Fees are as follows:
Fall or Spring Semester $20.00
Fall and Spring Semester $36.00
Either Summer Session $10.00
Annual (from purchase date) $50.00

Camping equipment rental is available and can be checked out from Equipment Issue, located in the Blatt PE Center. An array of camping equipment is available. Contact 777-3878 for additional information.

Programs include Fitness Programs, Intramural Sports and Sports Clubs. Participation is based on interest in the particular activity and not ability.

The fitness program offers a variety of aerobic classes for $10 per semester. Classes are held in a state-of-the-art aerobic studio and are taught by USC students who are certified aerobic instructors. Equipment utilized in classes includes steps, slides, exercise mats, weights, and resistance tubes. The various fitness programs may significantly help enhance both physical and psychological well-being by providing an opportunity to work out in a group.

The Intramural Sports program offers a variety of activities throughout the year ranging from dual/individual sports such as tennis and racquetball to team sports such as basketball, football, soccer, and softball. Intramural sports are structured and competitive activities where participants compete against USC students, faculty, and staff. Involvement in intramurals does not require a high degree of skill or physical fitness, only a sincere desire to participate and have fun.

The Sports Club program includes a variety of clubs that are registered student organizations. Sports clubs are formed by students who share a common interest in a specific sport. All clubs provide a program of instruction, recreation, and/or competition in a specific sport or recreational/physical activity.

Campus Recreation hires many students to work in the Blatt PE Center and with the programs. Positions available are: sports officials, certified aerobic instructors, lifeguards, activity area monitors, and office assistants. Interested students should complete an application located in the Office of Campus Recreation, Room 202 of the Blatt PE Center.

Office of Academic Integrity
Byrnes Building, 2nd Floor
777-4333
http://www.sc.edu/academicintegrity
academicintegrity@sc.edu

Academic Integrity is essential for an institution dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and learning. The University of South Carolina is committed to fostering a university environment which exemplifies the values embodied in the Carolinian Creed. All members of the University Community have a responsibility to uphold and maintain the highest standards of integrity in study, research, instruction, and evaluation as well as adhering to the Honor Code. The Office of Academic Integrity was designed to promote academic integrity through education accountability. Also, through research and education, this Office reaches out to students, faculty, and staff to inform them about the Honor Code and why ethical behavior is important at the global, local, and individual levels. The Office seeks to help create a culture of ethical behavior in the campus community. Should a student violate the Honor Code, they will be held accountable through a fair and consistent process that is educationally based. The Office also encourages personal and academic integrity through promotion of the Honor Code and the Carolinian Creed.

Office of Fellowships & Scholar Programs
101 Harper College
www.sc.edu/ofsp
USCFellowships@mailbox.sc.edu

The staff in the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs facilitates the pursuit of nationally prestigious fellowships by University students and coordinates an enhanced
University experience for Carolina and McNair Scholars. The involvement and leadership of these students make them prime candidates for national fellowships and
scholarships. In addition to the scholars, other high achieving students are identified, recruited, and advised to compete for such prestigious scholarships as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, NSF, Fulbright Udall, Goldwater, Rotary, among many others. Once
identified, students are provided support and assistance in every aspect of candidacy such as completing applications, writing essays, and interviewing. Although the ultimate goal is for University students to be awarded these competitive fellowships, the preparation process for potential scholars is designed to be developmental and thus rewarding in and of itself.

The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
1728 College Street
http://sc.edu/fye

The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition has as its mission to support and advance efforts to improve student learning and transitions into and through higher education. We achieve this mission by providing opportunities for the exchange of practical, theory-based information and ideas through the convening of conferences, teleconferences, institutes, and workshops; publishing monographs, a peer-reviewed journal, an electronic newsletter, guides, and books; generating and supporting research and scholarship; hosting visiting scholars; and administering a web site and listservs. The National Resource Center serves the University of South Carolina system community and higher educators across the USA and around the world.

Pre-Professional Advising
208 Sumwalt College
http://www.sc.edu/oppa

The Office of Pre-Professional Advising assists USC students in the preparation and application process to law school, medical and other health professional schools. Our mission is to enhance our students� undergraduate experience, to help them clarify and reassure them of their career goals, and ultimately to help them be the most competitive professional applicants they can be. The office is located in 208 Sumwalt College, 803-777-5581.

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the official academic record of student achievement for all colleges and campuses of the University of South Carolina. The Office maintains the Master Schedule of Classes for all campuses and programs, assigns classes to classrooms on the Columbia campus, registers students into classes via VIP, provides enrollment-related information to teaching and advising faculty, administrators, students, and appropriate agencies, collects and records official final grades for all University of South Carolina campuses and colleges, collects degree application information and orders and distributes diplomas for all campuses, produces the commencement programs, makes local arrangements for the large Columbia campus commencement ceremonies, provides staff support during the ceremonies, certifies student credentials through issuance of official transcripts.

The Student Success Center coordinates a broad array of programmatic initiatives that have been intentionally designed to help students get on track academically and personally at South Carolina. Supplemental Instruction is a peer-facilitated, learning enhancement program designed to help students succeed in USC's historically difficult classes. SI Leaders are undergraduate students who have previously taken the course and excelled. They attend class with students and facilitate three out-of-class small group study sessions per week. Tutoring is offered in a variety of historically difficult courses including chemistry, biology, foreign languages, math, and physics. SI and Tutoring are open to all students enrolled in these courses and are free of charge. The Students Tackling Academic Recovery (STAR) program is offered to students who are under-performing academically, particularly at the end of their first semester. STAR provides a series of academic coaching sessions and workshops designed to help students develop a plan to re-establish their good academic standing. The Creating Academic Responsibility (CAR) initiative is an early intervention program in which faculty members can refer students who are missing class excessively or are underperforming academically. Staff members communicate with referred students to share helpful resources and services. The First Year Call Center contacts each first year student twice a semester to assess how he/she is doing at Carolina, answer questions or concerns, and remind students of important deadlines. The Special Student Populations programs coordinate activities and resources for out-of-state and transfer students, as well as provide support for students of color, sophomores, and scholarship recipients.

The mission of the USC TRIO Programs is to promote educational opportunity and academic excellence for TRIO-eligible students through campus and community partnerships. The Programs support the University by expanding access to higher education for students from poor and working class families, and for students who are within the first generation of their families to pursue four-year college degrees. TRIO supports the academic community by helping its students to achieve retention and graduation rates that are at least comparable to those of the general student population.

TRIO offers a comprehensive set of services through five different programs, each targeted at a specific group of individuals from the 6th grade through adulthood. Services and activities include academic tutoring, cultural enrichment, financial aid counseling, summer on-campus residency programs, admissions counseling, and student mentoring.

TRIO works in direct partnership with the university as well as with Richland County school districts and various community agencies. We take pride in the success of our participants and are always looking for ways to expand the network of opportunities available to them.

University 101 is both an academic department and a course offered at the University of South Carolina. University 101, as an academic department, reports directly to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Support. University 101 has as its mission to build and sustain a vibrant campus-based educational community committed to the success of first-year college students and all students in transition. University 101 achieves this mission by providing educational opportunities for students, faculty, and staff in the USC system through: the University 101 course � The Student in the University; the University 201 course � Fundamentals of Inquiry; the University 290 course � Special Topics in the Residential College; the University 401 course � Senior Capstone Experience; University 101 Peer Leader and Graduate Leader programs; faculty and staff development initiatives; and the design of instructional resources.