Omar Troutman likes to think of the University's Student Assistance Program (SAP) as a big informational kiosk--with a personal touch.

The program, which operates through the Office for Student Disability Services, directs students to resources both on and off campus for any kind of need from counseling to housing concerns. SAP also offers students information through one-one-one consultations and small groups on topics from time management to effective study skills to help them succeed at USC and achieve their goals.

"For example, I worked with a graduate student last summer on basic writing skills and the proper format for writing term papers until I could successfully turn her over to the Writing Center when it opened at the beginning of the fall semester," said Troutman, a graduate assistant who works with the program. "That in a nutshell is what we're trying to do."

SAP is open to all USC students, including transfer students, students who live off campus, nontraditional students, and graduate students. "One thing we're finding is that students aren't aware of the resources available to them both inside and outside the University, especially if they're a transfer student or a nontraditional student--even graduate students who might not have had an orientation to University services," said Laura Yancey Jones, another graduate assistant with the program.

SAP also benefits faculty. Faculty and staff who have concerns about students can refer them directly to SAP for a one-on-one consultation. A SAP consultant then will connect those students with appropriate campus and community services.

"There's a link on our Web site [http://www.sa.sc.edu/sap/sap-referrals.htm] to refer students to the program," said Karen Pettus, director of Student Disability Services. "We ask that if a faculty member refers a student that he or she lets the student know."

For a faculty member who has a student who is acting up in class, for example, SAP can be a safe environment to determine what is causing the behavior. "We might refer the student to the counseling center, or it might be that the student is bored in class and needs a new study strategy or a new perspective on how to approach the class," Jones said.

SAP also offers a number of information workshops throughout the semester. Topics include:

• note taking strategies
• test prep help
• time management
• emergency preparedness
• grad school prep
• decoding financial aid and scholarship
• networking.

Other workshop topics are available upon request, and suggestions for workshops are welcome. Go to www.sa.sc.edu/SAP for a complete list of workshop dates and times.

"Most of the workshops are small and allow for personal interaction," Jones said. "And often the students' specific needs direct the content and direction of the workshops. We want their questions to be answered and to know that they benefited from attending."

Through its workshops and consultations, SAP gives students who need help a place to find that assistance.

"And if we don't know the answer, we'll try to find it," Jones said. "Sometimes, it's just knowing that there's someone to talk to. A lot of times, we're the cheerleader on the sidelines helping students know they can succeed."

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