The University of South Carolina Academic Enrichment Center strives to provide comprehensive services to improve the academic skills of student-athletes. While some of the participants in the Enrichment Services Programs are identified by department staff, student-athletes have the opportunity to self-identify to benefit from one or more of the offered services. The program is a proactive approach to assisting these students in adjusting to college life, maintaining acceptable levels of academic performance, and assisting in educational needs.

The program offers a wide range of learning services including academic coaching, subject-specific tutoring, learning specialist services, educational testing, academic counseling, summer bridge course, and assistive technology for all student-athletes, with a focus on those with disabilities and those who are underprepared.

Program links:

• Enrichment Services – Tutoring & Academic Coaching
• Learning Specialists
• Educational Assessment
• Counseling Services
• PREP — Summer Bridge
• Assistive Technology

Enrichment Services

Enrichment Services, which is comprised of the Tutor Program and the Academic Coach Program, aims to assist student-athletes in developing the knowledge and skills needed for successful completion of their coursework. Placing student-athletes in a position to be successful academically is paramount. Tutors and academic coaches employed by the Academic Enrichment Center have strong academic backgrounds and place a high value on education. They provide student-athletes with course-specific assistance, helping them develop effective study skills. Enrichment Services maintains high standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and academic integrity.

Tutor Program

The Tutor Program provides subject-specific assistance to student-athletes as a supplement to the classroom learning experience. The primary responsibility of a tutor is to understand and clearly communicate course content and study skills to the tutees. One-on-one, group, and drop-in tutoring is available in a broad array of courses. Writing, math, and science drop-in tutors are available during the day and in the evening to provide educational support.

Tutoring is based on student need. Hours are flexible but not guaranteed.

The pay is $10 per hour for undergraduate students, and $12 per hour for individuals with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Tutor Qualifications:

• Minimum of 30 college credit hours completed
• Minimum of a 3.2 overall GPA
• Minimum of a 3.5 GPA (B+) in specific courses tutored
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to relate to students of diverse academic backgrounds

Academic Coach Program

The Academic Coach Program offers academic support to student-athletes as they learn to function effectively in the college environment. The primary responsibility of an academic coach is to provide one-on-one guidance on study, organizational, and writing skills, time management, and goal setting.

Academic Coaches meet with assigned student-athletes for 2-4 times per week, depending upon the individual student’s need. Drop-in academic coaches are also available for sport specific study halls to provide additional educational support.

The program requires consistency on the part of the academic coach.

The pay is $12 per hour.

Academic Mentor Qualifications:

• Must meet all Tutor Qualifications (listed above)
• Willingness to work in a high-paced, constantly changing environment
• Certification or experience in education, counseling, or social work is strongly preferred
• Completed bachelor’s degree or enrolled in a graduate program, preferably education, counseling, or social work
• Students at the undergraduate level in their fourth year of an education, counseling, or social work degree program
• Students at the undergraduate level in at least their fourth year with a minimum of 1-year experience as an AEC tutor

Current USC students must apply via Handshake on the Career Center’s website.

Non-USC students must apply at https://uscjobs.sc.edu/

If you have questions regarding employment, contact Enrichment Services Assistant, AECES@mailbox.sc.edu, (803) 777-5133

Student-athletes interested in requesting a tutor or academic coach, please speak with your advisor.

Learning Specialists

Learning Specialists work directly with student-athletes needing instruction outside the classroom in order to achieve academic success. They have considerable experience in education, often having worked with many students with learning challenges, including learning disabilities. They are trained in academic intervention, and their goal is to help the student build his/her academic skills to become an independent learner. Learning Specialists meet with the student-athlete for 4-6 hours a week to complete work while developing skills in reading, writing, comprehension, expression, organization, and decision making. Any student-athlete concerned with his/her learning abilities may consult with a Learning Specialist.

Educational Assessment

Upon arrival, freshman student-athletes are screened for reading and writing concerns so that skill strengths and areas of concern can be identified. Based on the screening data, student-athletes may be referred for further assessment, assigned to tutors/academic coaches, and assigned to learning specialists.

In addition to initial screening, student-athletes with concerns about attention, memory, time management, and general studying may self-refer for psychoeducational assessment. Results of this assessment will be used to design an intervention plan for the student-athlete.

Student-athletes who were served by an IEP or 504 plan in high school, need to bring their most recent psychological assessment results to the Director of Enrichment Services to discuss the possibility of registering with the Student Disability Resource Center. You may need to complete a reevaluation if your assessment is older than 3 years. If you take stimulant medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you will need to see the School Psychologist to discuss the NCAA policy for stimulant drug use for the treatment of ADHD. You will need to have assessment information on file to ensure you meet compliance with the NCAA drug testing policy.

Counseling Services

Each student-athlete may engage in counseling for a variety of reasons including test anxiety, sport performance anxiety, general anxiety, depression, mood changes, adjustment issues, motivation issues, grief, organization, time management, study skills, and other concerns. If a student-athlete is feeling stressed, overwhelmed, apathetic, or experiencing changes in appetite, mood, concentration, or sport performance they may refer for counseling with the athletic department staff. Counseling and testing services may be arranged by the Sports Wellness Coordinator.

Sports Wellness Coordinator:

Sarah Noll, LISW-CP; Specialization – Assessments, referrals, and individual counseling

Location — Rice Building Room 342

To schedule an appointment go to – Teamworks or call or e-mail Sara Noll at 803-576-5638 or nollsa@mailbox.sc.edu.

Mental Health Team Members

Sarah Noll, Director of Mental Health
Dr. Tim Malone, Psychiatrist
Dr. Mike McCall, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Rhea Merck, Licensed Psychologist

PREP — Summer Bridge

Student-athletes taking courses during the summer prior to their freshman year are given the opportunity to take a skill building course to aid in their transition to the university so they can be successful. Topics in the summer bridge program include: reading, writing, and study skills, academic integrity, major/career interest inventory, and resume building. This course is paired with another course within the university, so the student-athletes will be able to practice the skills with actual class material. Class size is small so that each student receives individual attention.

Learning Lab

The following assistive technology programs are available for use in the Dodie Anderson Academic Enrichment Center:

Dragon NaturallySpeaking — software that transcribes spoken word. This program is beneficial for students who struggle with typing or transferring their thoughts into written word.

Smart Pens — software in a pen that captures lecture material and aids in the note-taking process using micro-dot paper. This software is beneficial for students who need help with note-taking.

Kurzweil 3000 — software program that scans textbook, document, or internet pages and reads them aloud to the user. This program is beneficial for students who need to improve their reading skills.