The USC Division of Student Affairs has received an Excellence Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), which named the division's professional-development program the best among American colleges and universities.

NASPA's Excellence awards are given annually to honor excellence and innovation in student-affairs programs and initiatives from institutions across the United States.

"This prestigious national award is yet another recognition of and testament to the professional dedication of the employees in the University of South Carolina's Division of Student Affairs," said Dennis Pruitt, vice president for student affairs. "This award indicates the continuous efforts in which these professionals are engaged in order to ensure the best possible educational experiences--both in the classroom and in the development of life-management skills--for Carolina students."

USC's Excellence Award was included in the awards category "Administrative, Assessment, Information Technology, Fundraising, Professional Development and Related."

USC's award-winning program provides opportunities to staff for professional growth through division meetings, a reading program, an annual in-house conference, and the Authors Forum Series, which brings nationally known authors and experts on student-affairs issues to campus. USC makes available its Authors Forum Series, as well as other speakers, to student-affairs professionals from colleges and universities across South Carolina.

For more information about USC's professional-development program in the Division of Student Affairs, visit www.sa.sc.edu.

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