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Student Affairs and Academic Support

2025 Highlights

Posted on: December 23, 2025; Updated on: December 23, 2025
By PJ Walker, pswalker@mailbox.sc.edu
Image depicts a logo with "SACSA" and "NASPA Region 3" written at the top followed by the large letters "NPI," the dates June 7th to 12th 2025 on the side and the University of South Carolina below. A palmetto tree is at the center.

The New Professionals Institute set a record with 93 participants, marking a new engagement benchmark

For the second year in a row, the University of South Carolina's Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support played host to the New Professionals Institute (NPI) for NASPA Region III and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA). And for the second year in a row, USC set a new attendance record for the conference. Dean of Students Marc Shook, who completed his term as NPI Institute director, and NPI Coordinator Kat Yoffie led nearly a dozen USC staff members across several areas of the division attending the conference.

 

Logo reading SSC with gates and a tree in the background

The Student Success Center received the Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award and was recognized as a Learning Center of Excellence for 2025-2028

The University of South Carolina's Student Success Center is continuing to lead the way as an outstanding learning center under the direction of Director Dana Talbert. That excellence has been recognized by the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA) during its annual conference in October with the Frank L. Christ Award for excellence in nine main areas, and the SSC has been named a Learning Center of Excellence by the ICLCA through 2028.

 

Gamecock mascot stands inside of a red-colored letter U with letters S and C to his left.

A seamless fall opening welcomed students back, with strong participation in key events and services

The 2025-26 school year started off strong with more than two dozen Carolina Welcome events. From First Night Carolina to the Student Organization Fair and beyond, our people made August memorable. WIth work from key SAAS units, including Gamecock Entertainment, Residence Life, the Student Success Center, Campus Recreation and so many more as well as key student groups, USC students took full advantage of Carolina Welcome 2025.

 

A close-up of a red, textured glass trophy bowl mounted on a wooden base with a plaque reading “Student Affairs and Academic Support, University of South Carolina — 2025 Fore Carolina Golf Tournament Champion,” photographed outdoors on a wooden surface with a softly blurred green background.

The inaugural Fore Carolina golf tournament united campus partners, boosting support for students

Sixty-four golfers joined the division to celebrate inaugural FORE Carolina Golf Tournament, benefitting the Carolina Cares Fund, at the Wildewood Club on Oct. 23. The tournament was the brainchild of Vice President of Student Affairs and Academic Support J. Rex Tolliver, who worked with the division’s communications and marketing team to jumpstart the tournament. After a three-way tie, the team of Jacob Kibler, Ty Strawhorn, Clayton Harden and JT Irvin came away with the top spot based on their early round scores. 

 

Cover of a 2024–2025 Annual Report titled “Imagine Inspire Involve,” with the words stacked vertically in pink, red, and white text over a dark, grayscale background of classical columns. A partial overlay image at the top shows a cheering crowd, suggesting energy, participation, and community engagement.

SAAS launched its first division annual report, providing a clear narrative of our impact

This fall, we were pleased to share the 2024–25 Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support Annual Report. It offers a clear look at our work over the past year and reflects the impact made across our campus community. Additionally, we released the Little Black Book as a companion to the report, adding data and assessments for the 2024–25 academic year. The book provides a quick way to explore key numbers and outcomes from the division. 

 

Logo for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. The design features a maroon triangle with a gray circle in the center above the organization name.

NRC’s acquisition of NISTS elevated USC to a national leader in transfer student success

The University of South Carolina’s National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition (NRC) has been selected as the new home for the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS), which has been based at the University of North Georgia since 2012. This transition brings together two respected organizations known for advancing student success research and professional practice across higher education. 

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