The Academic Centers for Excellence enhance students’ academic success through academic success coaching, study skill development, self-assessments, appreciative advising techniques and a variety of other resources such as the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). The resources and services offered by ACE are free and are available for all University of South Carolina students.

ACE recruits USC graduate students to serve as Academic Success Coaches. As an ACE Coach, you will be trained to offer general academic success tips (e.g., exam preparation, learning style, procrastination avoidance, time management) as well as information on academic advising and career choices to students at the University of South Carolina.

By serving as an ACE Academic Success Coach, you will:

• Gain skills to conduct effective academic success coaching;
  
• Gain knowledge of academic support services;
  
• Gain experience with general counseling skills;
  
• Learn appreciative advising techniques;
  
• Coach academically deficient students;
  
• Develop transferable skills for your careers working with students

ACE Academic Success Coach Position Description:

Commitment:

• ACE Coaches will be expected to work between 6-10 hours per week (average of 8) in one of the four ACE offices on campus, coaching students in study skill development and academic success strategies.
  
• ACE Coaches will meet every other week, twice per month, for an ACE team meeting.
  
• ACE Coaches will have individual projects related to Academic Success, research on study skills, and other academic support initiatives.
  
• ACE Coaches will be expected to do a minimum of five academic success presentations in the Fall 2008 semester. (More as needed).
  
• ACE Coaches will attend training in at the beginning of the Fall semester
  
• ACE Coaches will participate in the Spring Academic Recovery Initiative, through the Registrar’s office.
  
• ACE Coaches will help maintain ACE offices.
  

Stipend and logistics

• ACE Coaches will be paid approximately $10 per hour, depending on tenure.
• ACE Coaches must attend all training dates at the beginning of the Fall semester. Dates and times TBD.
• ACE Coaches must attend bi-monthly meetings every other week.
• The ACE Coach role is a full year commitment. ACE Coaches should expect to work both semesters in Fall and Spring.
  

No prior experience with academic success coaching is required; however, once selected as an ACE Coach you must meet with the Coordinator of Academic Success Initiatives to learn how to lead a conversation discussing academic concerns with students.

New ACE academic success coaches must attend the ACE training at the beginning of the semester in which they start ACE. Additional training will be provided throughout the semester.
ACE service should be outside of assistantship responsibilities. Please consult with your current supervisor about your plans to become an ACE coach.

For more information, please e-mail Claire Robinson, Coordinator of Academic Success Initiatives
and Resident Student Learning or contact by phone 803-777-4885.