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 earlier this month.
Frank L. Christ Award
Talbert and her team traveled to Rapid City, South Dakota, Oct. 20-23 for the ICLCA Conference and received the ICLCA Frank Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award for work done by learning centers and to foster their future growth and development. The award honors all efforts of the Student Success Center, which submitted a 15-page packet highlighting work across these nine areas:
- General Information: Mission statement, staff info, etc.
- Clientele
- Programs and Services
- Technology
- Partnering
- Staff Training
- Certificate and Recognition - staff publications or presentations
- Program Evaluation and Assessment
- Publicity and Public Relations
"What makes the Student Success Center special is that we meet students where they are. Every day, I see our peer leaders and staff helping students build confidence, not just in their classes, but in themselves. That confidence is what keeps students moving forward, staying engaged and ultimately continuing toward graduation. Watching students realize they’re capable of more than they imagined is the most rewarding part of what we do, and it’s a big part of how the SSC supports student success, drives retention and strengthens the university as a whole,” Talbert says.
Learning Center of Excellence
In addition, the Student Success Center has been designated as a Learning Center of Excellence by the ICLCA for 2025-28. The designation further honors the high standard of student service at USC. The center was noted for its strong attributes in these areas:
- Educational framework
- Staff development
- Ethical practices
- Use of technology and virtual platforms
- Strategic planning
- Continuous improvement
In addition to our top-ranked first-year experience among public universities, the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support, and in particular our Student Success teams, continue to provide an outstanding experience throughout college and support to our graduates.