This certificate program is designed to elevate the specific student populations enrolled at USC to help faculty, instructors, and teaching graduate students understand the characteristics and backgrounds of the students enrolled in their classes. The sessions will utilize institutional and national data to contextualize the challenges USC students face, and each session will dedicate time to exploring associated best practices and opportunities leading to student success through activities and resource-sharing.
Each session will emphasize the following:
- Overview of identified USC student population(s)
- Data Overview (national and USC-specific, when applicable)
- Discussion/Activity on observed opportunities when working with student populations
- Focus on Faculty/Teaching Support
- Recommendations for student populations moving forward (activities and resources)
Program Requirements
Faculty, instructors, and graduate students who participate in five or more workshops will receive a certificate of completion and a letter of commendation.
Participants are required to attend:
- Two (2) required workshops
- Three (3) elective workshops
Participants will have 4 academic semesters (not including summer semesters) to complete the certificate.
Participants will also be eligible for additional recognition and participation opportunities as the Carolina Experience initiative continues to develop.
Required Workshops Offered Fall 2025
Tuesday, September 30, 10:05am - 11:20am - In-Person
This interactive session will explore the needs, demographics, and attitudes of today’s first-year students, both nationally and locally. Through a facilitated discussion and game show format, participants will learn more about the realities and needs of students entering college in 2025. Register
Thursday, October 3, 10:05am - 11:20am - In-Person
This session will primarily focus on transfer and sophomore college year experiences, with some additional emphasis on junior year students. With the recent launch of Carolina Experience in 2024, a heightened emphasis is placed on continuity across the entirety of USC student experiences through increased sense of belonging and career readiness. To help in these endeavors, longitudinal qualitative and quantitative data collected from the Student Success Center has been instrumental in better understanding these target populations.
What are the experiences of transfer and sophomore college students? What are the biggest challenges they face and what do they most look forward to? How does this align with the national research on these populations? And most importantly- how can this scholarly literature, theoretical context, and localized data be used to support the overall USC student experience at USC and in support of engagement, including experiential learning, and career readiness?
We will go over the assessment findings and what specialized resources are already in place at USC to support these populations, as well as provide recommendations for instructors and course-based activities utilizing evidence-based approaches. Finally, we will wrap up this session with group discussion on suggestions to further support the target populations through the Carolina Experience, including additional ways for campus stakeholders to get involved. Register
Elective Workshops Offered Fall 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person
Join us for a Mutual Expectations Discussion on exploring the topic “Experiential
Learning at Carolina” in our September session. This discussion will explore what
participants think about how to intentionally find the bridge between academic studies
and activities beyond the classroom. What exactly is experiential learning and what
can it look like for you? How can a faculty member help you find these connections?
Join this fun discussion with fellow students and faculty!
Free lunch is provided, and RSVP is required! Sponsored by the Carolina Experience,
the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Center for Integrative and Experiential
Learning. RSVP
Tuesday, October 28, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person
Join us for a Mutual Expectations Discussion on exploring the topic “Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the College Campus” in our October session. This discussion will explore what participants think about how AI should be used on campus. When is ChatGPT appropriate and when it is not? What is being used today beyond ChatGPT? Should we have common expectations as a campus community on what and when we will use AI for? Join this fun discussion with fellow students and faculty!
Free lunch is provided, and RSVP is required! Sponsored by the Carolina Experience, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity. RSVP
Thursday, November 13, 11:45am - 1:00pm - In-Person
This Mutual Expectations discussion will focus on the benefits and practical steps that faculty/staff can take on developing meaningful professional relationships with one another. How students can approach faculty, why developing professional relationships matters, how this may be different than a mentor relationship and more. Join this fun discussion with fellow students and faculty over a free lunch!
RSVP is required. Sponsored by the Carolina Experience and the Center for Teaching Excellence. RSVP
How to Earn a Certificate of Completion
- Select a certificate you want to earn.
- Review the required workshops.
- Register for and attend all required workshops within the time frame specified.
- Look for an email from cte@sc.edu with your digital certificate.
How to Check Your Progress
Participants can check their progress online by following the steps below.
- Log into Registration and Tracking System for Workshops and Events using your CTE Training Account credentials.
- Click on the specific learning plan for the certificate of completion program you would like to view. The learning plan button is located on the left-hand side in the menu screen.
- Click “View” to generate a personalized learning plan status report. The report will show the workshops you have taken, and remaining workshop requirements.
The learning plans also provide a status progress update.
- Partial means you have met some of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
- Complete means you have met all the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
- Not Started means you have not completed any of the requirements for a specific certificate of completion program.
Completed your certificate?
At the conclusion of each semester, reports are run to determine who has completed each certificate. Digital Certificates will be emailed. If you do not receive your certificate by the middle of the following semester, kindly contact cte@sc.edu for assistance.