This certificate program is designed to elevate the specific student populations enrolled at USC to help faculty, instructors, and teaching graduate students understand the characteristics and backgrounds of the students enrolled in their classes. The sessions will utilize institutional and national data to contextualize the challenges USC students face, and each session will dedicate time to exploring associated best practices and opportunities leading to student success through activities and resource-sharing.
Each session will emphasize the following:
- Overview of identified USC student population(s)
- Data Overview (national and USC-specific, when applicable)
- Discussion/Activity on observed opportunities when working with student populations
- Focus on Faculty/Teaching Support
- Recommendations for student populations moving forward (activities and resources)
Program Requirements
Faculty, instructors, and graduate students who participate in five or more workshops will receive a certificate of completion and a letter of commendation.
Participants are required to attend:
- Two (2) required workshops
- Three (3) elective workshops
Participants will have 4 academic semesters (not including summer semesters) to complete the certificate.
Participants will also be eligible for additional recognition and participation opportunities as the Carolina Experience initiative continues to develop.
Required Workshops Offered Spring 2026
Tuesday, January 27, 10:05am - 11:20am - In-Person
This session will primarily focus on transfer and sophomore college year experiences, with some additional emphasis on junior year students. With the recent launch of Carolina Experience in 2024, a heightened emphasis is placed on continuity across the entirety of USC student experiences through increased sense of belonging and career readiness. To help in these endeavors, longitudinal qualitative and quantitative data collected from the Student Success Center has been instrumental in better understanding these target populations.
What are the experiences of transfer and sophomore college students? What are the biggest challenges they face and what do they most look forward to? How does this align with the national research on these populations? And most importantly- how can this scholarly literature, theoretical context, and localized data be used to support the overall USC student experience at USC and in support of engagement, including experiential learning, and career readiness?
We will go over the assessment findings and what specialized resources are already in place at USC to support these populations, as well as provide recommendations for instructors and course-based activities utilizing evidence-based approaches. Finally, we will wrap up this session with group discussion on suggestions to further support the target populations through the Carolina Experience, including additional ways for campus stakeholders to get involved. Register
Thursday, February 26, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - In-Person
This interactive session will explore the needs, demographics, and attitudes of today’s first-year students, both nationally and locally. Through a facilitated discussion and game show format, participants will learn more about the realities and needs of students entering college in 2025. Register
Elective Workshops Offered Spring 2026
Thursday, January 29, 10:05am - 11:20am - In-Person
How can we excel at supporting all graduate and professional students at USC? This interactive presentation explores this question through a look at the needs and experiences of this often, under-resourced population of students, from both a national and USC-specific perspective. Through facilitated discussion, participants will learn about key challenges to graduate student academic and career success and how to translate skills to the labor market as well as academia and explore resources and recommendations for fostering a culture of support in the classroom and beyond. Register
Tuesday, February 3, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - In-Person
This workshop is designed to explore the student experiences of junior and senior year students utilizing insights gleaned from USC data, as well as national literature on these topics. Given the significant emphasis placed on the later years of undergraduate college students, particularly related to their career readiness and planning, participation in high-impact practices and experiential learning opportunities, and preparing to successfully launch into the next life chapters, this session will highlight ways that faculty and staff can support upperclassmen students during this significant stage of their academic careers. Register
Thursday, February 19, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person
Join us for a discussion where we will explore whether the Carolinian Creed still reflects what it means to be part of USC today. Join us for a conversation on shared values, community expectations, and how the Creed shows up in modern campus life. Hosted by the Carolina Experience, Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.
This is FREE and lunch is included! Sponsored by the Carolina Experience, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity. RSVP
Thursday, March 26, 1:15pm - 2:30pm - In-Person
Over 20% of USC students identify as first-generation (first-gen). With the launch of the First-Generation Center and First-Generation Living and Learning Community in fall 2024, a heightened emphasis has been placed on first-generation student success. This interactive session will present both national and USC-specific data, along with effective strategies and best practices for supporting first-generation students.
Enjoy a lively discussion with colleagues and students. Register
Thursday, April 2, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person
This Mutual Expectations workshop and luncheon will focus on the roles students and faculty play in supporting mentoring relationships through undergraduate research. What makes a good research mentor and mentee? What are common mentoring challenges faced by both students and faculty in a research setting? How do both students and faculty work towards building high quality mentoring relationships through research experiences? Join this fun discussion with fellow students and faculty!
Free lunch is provided and RSVP required!
Sponsored by the Carolina Experience, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. RSVP
How to Earn a Certificate of Completion
- Select a certificate you want to earn.
- Review the required workshops.
- Register for and attend all required workshops within the time frame specified.
- Look for an email from cte@sc.edu with your digital certificate.
How to Check Your Progress
Participants can check their progress online by following the steps below.
- Log into Registration and Tracking System for Workshops and Events using your CTE Training Account credentials.
- Click on the specific learning plan for the certificate of completion program you would like to view. The learning plan button is located on the left-hand side in the menu screen.
- Click “View” to generate a personalized learning plan status report. The report will show the workshops you have taken, and remaining workshop requirements.
The learning plans also provide a status progress update.
- Partial means you have met some of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
- Complete means you have met all the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
- Not Started means you have not completed any of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
Completed your certificate?
At the conclusion of each semester, reports are run to determine who has completed each certificate. Digital Certificates will be emailed. If you do not receive your certificate by the middle of the following semester, kindly contact cte@sc.edu for assistance.