" I live in Pacer Downs and I love it. I love how I can go back to my room during the day if I have a break between classes. I also feel that I have met more people by living on campus. I do not think that I would have had a good college experience if I would not have lived on-campus."
- Katie Gerth , Early Childhood Education major
Did You Know?
USC Aiken has some of the best professional schools in South Carolina. All three - business, nursing, and education - have received the highest level of accreditation possible. This means more opportunities for you to learn from the best and brightest the University has to offer.
"After coming to USC Aiken, I was really able to get involved in alot of great community service projects tha benefit both the local community and beyond."
- Marcus Allen, Business Marketing major
"In each of our housing facilities, you'll find RAs like me, as well as professional staff members, who have undergone special training to help students deal with some of the common issues that may arise when living away from home for the first time."
- Erin Smith, Elementary Education major
"The best part of being a nursing major and actually being in the nursing program is the reputation USC Aiken nursing students carry. Many students and professors know that to get into the program here is competitive, and to be in the program is an accomplishment."
- Shelby Williams, Nursing major
"During the course of my freshman and sophomore years, I was a resident in the Pacer Downs. When I first met my roommate my freshman year, we became the best of friends from the get-go. We found out that we were so much alike in many ways. We connected like brothers, and we are still roommates today during our junior year. "
- Anthony (T.J.) Langford, Communications major
"Being a communication major at USC Aiken has definitely prepared me for effective communicating in a real world setting. I've even been able to communicate in a different language for guests at Disney, thanks to the French courses I’ve taken at USC Aiken. I constantly find myself using concepts that I’ve learned in the classroom; some of which I wouldn’t have been able to use until later after college. "
- Paige Jeffcoat, Communications major
Intern for The Walt Disney Company
"USC Aiken was my very first choice because it wasn't too far from home, but I still got to leave home and experience something new. There were other colleges that I looked at, such as Emory, Winthrop, and USC Columbia, but I'm glad that I chose USCA. "
- Shantivia Boneparte, Exercise & Sports Science major
Academy for Lifelong Learning Supports USC Aiken Freshmen Reading Initiative
April 24, 2008 2:22 PM
For the second consecutive year, USC Aiken will conduct the First-Year Reading Experience initiative for freshmen, which will be funded in part by a generous donation from the University’s Academy for Lifelong Learning.
Through the initiative, each first-year student enrolling for the 2008-2009 year will receive a copy of the selected book, Not for Sale by David Batstone, during summer 2008 orientation. Freshmen are heavily encouraged to read the book, which will be discussed in First-Year Seminar, the elective, one-credit course designed to help freshmen transition into the USC Aiken community, as well as other first-year courses.
“The First-Year Reading Experience (FYRE) is intended to provide first-year students an opportunity to share a common intellectual experience with faculty, staff, and other students,” said Stephanie Foote, director of the Academic Success Center and the First-Year Experience. “The FYRE will also present opportunities for students to think critically and dialogue about topics and issues related to the reading and the first year of college.”
The books are being funded through the Academy for Lifelong Learning Program Endowment, which was established to provide support for the enhancement of programs, scholarship, and learning at USC Aiken. The Academy for Lifelong Learning is an educational program offering short courses, trips, and monthly programs for seniors administered through the University’s continuing education department.
“The members of the Academy appreciate the opportunity to engage in a stimulating learning environment provided by USCA,” said Vince Coughlin, Academy president. “We believe that learning is a lifelong endeavor, and providing the book for the first year reading program is our way of saying thank you to USCA for its support during the year.”
For more information, contact Foote at 803.641.3321 or stephanief@usca.edu.
Stephanie Foote (center, seated) and representatives of the Academy for Lifelong Learning (left to right) Larry Peyser, Mike Lythgoe, and Vince Coughlin