Academic Curricular Enrichment (ACE)
USCA's Academic Curricular Enrichment requirement (ACE), which went into effect for all incoming students in Fall 2009, supports USCA’s Mission as a comprehensive liberal arts institution that aims to produce engaged learners and principled citizens. ACE events support the USCA General Education Goals and Outcomes and the Association of American College and Universities LEAP Objectives.
What is Ace?
Academic Curricular Enrichment, or ACE, is a university-wide initiative to engage USCA students through diverse curricular enrichment opportunities. While at USCA, students attend a prescribed number of ACE events. Such events span the academic curriculum and may include musical recitals, book readings, films, guest speakers, and planetarium shows.
Why is ACE important?
As a comprehensive liberal arts institution, USCA aims to produce “engaged learners and principled citizens.” ACE will help to broaden USCA students’ cultural and intellectual perspectives and to promote lifelong learning. Engaging in and with learning opportunities that are provocative, insightful, and informative facilitates deeper, newfound understandings and perspectives that might not have been formed otherwise. USCA is committed to providing all students with sustained opportunities to grow intellectually through rich and diverse curricular experiences.
ACE procedures and guidelines for ACE events, along with a form to submit events for ACE credit, appear on this website.
Note: students are not required to submit an ACE Event Application unless they wish to SPONSOR an ACE event.
To receive ACE credit for attending an event, students only need to complete the ACE ticket given to them at the event itself or have their USCA ID scanned twice (at the beginning and end of the event).
For all events (plays and concerts) sponsored by The Etherredge Center, students must pick up their ticket from the Etherredge Center Box Office by 5 p.m. on the day of the performance. Students who purchase tickets after 5pm and just prior to the event itself will not be given ACE credit for the event.
For all events sponsored by the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, students are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance at the Planetarium. Students should arrive no later than ten minutes before shows.
ACE Goals
- Support USCA’s mission as a comprehensive liberal arts institution that aims to produce“engaged learners and principled citizens.”
- Support the faculty-identified goals of broadening students’ cultural and intellectual perspectives and promoting lifelong learning.
- Support the campus in broadening and deepening skills, knowledge, and experiences that enrich individual and community well-being and livelihood.
- Support the university's General Education Goals and Outcomes and the AACU LEAP objectives.
Requirements of the ACE Program
- USCA undergraduate students who are enrolled as of 2024 will earn a total of 10 ACE credits prior to their degree completion. Freshman Convocation will constitute the first ACE event for entering freshmen and is worth 2 ACE credits.
- Participation in ACE events will be recorded and monitored under the supervision of the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The USCA General Education Committee will approve events for ACE credit, and the Office of Academic Affairs will develop a calendar for each academic semester and for the summer session of approved ACE events scheduled over a wide range of days and times. The calendar will include a generous number of free events and events with a nominal admission fee.
- The calendar of ACE events will be available online.
- Students must complete all ACE requirements before graduation.
- The number of ACE credits to be earned is based on the number of college credits earned upon matriculation. Required ACE credit will be calculated as follows:
| Credits at Matriculation | ACE Credits Required |
|---|---|
| <12 | 10 |
| 12-23 | 9 |
| 24-35 | 8 |
| 36-47 | 7 |
| 48-59 | 6 |
| 60-71 | 5 |
| 72-89 | 4 |
| >89 | 3 |
- Students admitted to and enrolled in degree programs delivered entirely online will be given online options to earn ACE credits.
- Students may not miss regularly scheduled classes to participate in an ACE event.
- Expectations for student behavior are the same at ACE events as in the classroom, including adherence to the USCA Policy for Portable Electronic Devices. Students can be asked to leave the event if they are disruptive. This will result in no ACE credit awarded.
- ACE credits are normally awarded less than two weeks after an ACE event. Students are responsible for checking the status of their ACE credits on DegreeWorks. Credit will not be awarded for an ACE credit from a previous semester.
- It is the responsibility of students to verify that they receive credit for the ACE events that they attend. Students must report a perceived discrepancy in the crediting of attendance at an ACE event to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the event. Students will not earn credit for perceived discrepancies reported after thirty (30) calendar days.
Assessment of the ACE Program
The effectiveness of the ACE requirement will be assessed through questions on the NSSE, senior exit surveys, student focus groups, etc., and reviewed by the General Education Committee.
ACE Guidelines
An ACE event will support USCA’s mission as a comprehensive liberal arts institution that aims to produce “engaged learners and principled citizens.” ACE supports the USCA General Education Goals and Objectives and the Association of American Colleges and Universities LEAP Objectives. Topics will help broaden USCA students’ cultural and intellectual perspectives and promote lifelong learning.
The following types of events may be included for ACE credit:
- Films and documentaries. The film or documentary must be introduced and discussed by an expert in the field (e.g. faculty member, community leader, or professional) as part of the event, and its broader significance must be addressed. Time should be allowed for questions after the film.
- Lectures. The speaker will be qualified to speak to the topic at hand, and the topic’s broader significance will be integrated into the presentation.
- Performances and exhibits. The performers and artists will be qualified and skilled. The broader cultural significance of the work will be clarified through initial and concluding comments, program notes, or other means.
- Debates and Panel Discussions. Determination of whether such activities qualify would be based on the panel’s qualifications and the topic at hand. The broader intellectual and/or cultural significance would be conveyed before and/or after the event.
- Workshops designed to improve writing, information literacy, and/or communication skills. The speaker(s) must be qualified to speak on the topic at hand and should include opportunities for active engagement of workshop participants.
- Workshops designed to teach and improve practical life skills, including but not limited to financial and budgeting skills, practical university skills (e.g. studying, time management), and mental health and wellness. The speaker(s) must be qualified to speak on the topic at hand and should include opportunities for active engagement of workshop participants.
- Service and service learning opportunities, provided the opportunities are given an appropriate broader context with respect to the ACE program goals. This significance will be conveyed before, during, and/or after the event.
Other types of events could qualify for ACE credit if they meet the criteria stated above and if their cultural and intellectual significance supports one or more of the USCA General Education Goals. This connection must be clearly conveyed on the ACE application (see table below).
Note: on‐line programs and events that meet ACE criteria may be submitted for approval as well.
To be considered for ACE credit, applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the proposed event. ACE applications must clearly explain which general education goal is being supported (see table below) and the cultural or intellectual significance of the event.
Applicants may request that their event be worth 2 ACE credits with sufficient justification related to time and/or effort on the application form. Event approval is not contingent on additional credit approval.
Student social/entertainment activities, including athletic events, may not be included.
| ACE Criteria | General Education Goal |
| The event promotes/ is designed to enhance students’ ability to demonstrate/ perform: | |
| effective communication skills with regard to audience, ethics, language choice, and logic; evaluation of communication models in appropriate context(s); assessment of the research claims of others; and/or recognition of the effects of verbal/nonverbal communication. | Oral Communication |
| effective writing skills with regard to purpose, use of evidence, organization, style, and/or grammar in appropriate context(s). | Written communication |
| use of statistics or mathematics to solve abstract or applied problems in appropriate context(s), insightful interpretation of graphs, tables, or schematics. | Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic |
| understanding of the problems, principles, processes, phenomena, and/or theories of science; the ability to use the scientific method to solve problems; and/or comprehension of the impact of science on society. | Natural Sciences |
| understanding of the concepts and perspectives of, and/or the ability to effectively apply the methods of, the social or behavioral sciences. | Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| analysis, interpretation, contextualization, and/or evaluation of topics in the visual arts, theater, music, dance, literature, history, or philosophy; and /or creation or performance of original works in any area of the Humanities | Humanities |
| understanding of the cultural, social, and/or economic forces have shaped global history and global cultures. understanding of culture and/or cultural practices (outside of mainstream American culture) and/or reading/speaking/listening skills in a non-English language | Global Cultures |
| understanding of the workings of the American political process, including the fundamental values and ideas of the current system and/or how historical events and perspectives have helped to shape it, and comprehension of the political role(s) played by responsible citizens. | American Political Institutions |
| understanding of the various aspects of a non-Western culture, such as its art, history, or literature, and/or a more complex cross-cultural perspective regarding people, events, and institutions gained through comparison and analysis. | Cross Cultural Understanding (Non-Western) |
| Understanding of global and/or community needs and issues and the role of engaged citizens in addressing those needs through service | N/A: College, Career, and Community |
| Understanding and awareness of various career paths, industries, or roles coupled with enhancement of career-related skills such as resume-writing, networking, communication | N/A: College, Career, and Community |
| Comprehension of “real world” problems and solutions, such as personal health (e.g., stress management, health-protective behavior), financial literacy, digital literacy or interpersonal skills | N/A: College, Career, and Community |
Students completing a USCA degree at another USC Campus
For students completing a USCA degree at USC Sumter or USC Salkehatchie and USCA Palmetto College Students, the number of ACE events for these change-of-campus students will be determined by the number of credit hours earned by these students when they become USCA students.
| Credits at Matriculation | ACE Credits Required |
|---|---|
| <12 | 10 |
| 12-23 | 9 |
| 24-35 | 8 |
| 36-47 | 7 |
| 48-59 | 6 |
| 60-71 | 5 |
| 72-89 | 4 |
| >89 | 3 |
Students can select to fulfill their ACE requirements by viewing online ACE events. View more information about online ACE completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
USC Aiken undergraduate students who are enrolled as of 2024 will earn a total of 10 ACE credits before their degree completion. Freshman Convocation will constitute the first ACE event for entering freshmen and is worth 2 ACE credits.
Transfer students and change-of-campus students will be awarded ACE credits based on the number of credit hours they bring to USCA and must subsequently attend ACE events until they reach a total of 10.
Returning students who have been away from USCA for more than 36 months and who return in Fall 2009 or thereafter must fulfill the same ACE requirements as transfer students.
It is strongly suggested that students do not wait to start attending ACE events until their senior year. Acquiring ACE credit early will facilitate graduation.
An up-to-date ACE calendar will be available on the USCA Academic Affairs website. Only events that the General Education Committee approves count for ACE credit. Only events that appear on the ACE calendar will count for ACE credit.
No. Students will only be given credit for attending the event once.
Students not studying abroad can receive ACE credit for events off campus as long as the event has already been approved.
Students participating in Study Abroad programs may earn up to 4 ACE credits while overseas by participating in pre-approved inter-curricular academic events. The Gen Ed Committee must approve all such special requests.
No. A list of possible online options will be made available to students who qualify upon enrollment.
Yes.
Yes, although students are strongly encouraged to start attending ACE events before their senior year.
Advisors should monitor students’ attendance at ACE events and remind them of their responsibilities regarding ACE credits. Seniors will not be able to graduate without 10 ACE credits awarded.
No. Students have four years to attend events and, therefore, should not take the chance that they cannot get into events at the end of their academic careers.
Upon arriving at the event, students will have their student IDs scanned. To be counted as present, a student must have their ID scanned before the event. ACE events sponsored by the Etherredge Center and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center may require students’ IDs to be scanned both before and after the event. For unique situations, a physical ACE ticket will be available, which a student must fill out and turn in at the end of the event.
IDs will be scanned only up to the start of the event and again after completion of the event. Students who arrive late or leave early will not receive ACE credit.
If a student uses a ticket, these tickets will be distributed only up to the start of the event and will be collected ONLY at the end of an event.
Students may not turn in a ticket for another student or have an ID scanned for another student.
Attendance at ACE events can be checked in Degree Works in (Self-Service Aiken) SSA.
Students should contact Dr. Tim Lintner if they do not see a record of their attendance within two weeks of the event. ACE event facilitators should keep the physical tickers for their ACE events until the end of each semester.
No. Occasionally, ACE events are canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a presenter falling ill or inclement weather. While we understand the inconvenience, students will not receive credit for trying to attend an event that does not take place.
At each event, a faculty or staff member will be responsible for monitoring student behavior. Students whose behavior is deemed unacceptable will be asked to leave the event and will receive no ACE credit.
Student behavior at ACE events is expected to be the same as in the classroom, including adherence to the USCA Policy for Portable Electronic Devices.
- Reserve a Space for the Event in 25Live.
- Select AIK- ACE Event Request as a resource.
- Fill Out the ACE Event Application.