Annual Conference

The Student Affairs and Academic Support's Aspire & Advance conference is open to all division staff members, as well as other USC-Columbia staff, USC System campus staff, and staff from other Midlands-area higher education institutions.

2026 Aspire & Advance Conference Details

The University of South Carolina's Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support invites you to join us for the 3rd annual Aspire & Advance Conference!

Kick off the 2026–2027 academic year with inspiring workshops, meaningful conversations, and engaging team-building experiences designed to support your professional growth.

When: Thursday, July 23rd & Friday, July 24th

Where: Gateway 737 Idea Center

Who: All Student Affairs and Academic Support staff members, as well as other USC-Columbia staff, USC System campus staff, and staff from other Midlands-area higher education institutions.

Registration Now Open

Be sure to register for the conference by Friday, May 15th.

Schedule at a Glance

Sessions will include the following topics:

A Seat at the Table: Involving Students in Staff Hiring
AI at Work: Building Confidence and Connection Through Curiosity, Not Fear
Building college students ethical AI literacy through interactive online modules
Columbia Area Schools Panel: Aspire for further collaboration and advance student services
Connecting the Dots: From Curiosity to Strategic Investment
Curiosity Over Crisis: Navigating High Stakes Problems & Calls with Upset Students & Families
Curious Supervision: Helping Student Employees Thrive
Feed Your Starter, Not Your Stress
Fostering First-Generation Student Success: Leveraging the Community Cultural Wealth Framework
From Chaos to Clarity: Using Microsoft Loop & Planner
From Curiosity to Creation: Turning AI Basics into a Custom GPT
From Idea to Insight: What Happens When an Initiative Falls Flat?
From Silence to Strategy: Using Your Voice to Influence Change in Higher Education
Gamecocks Don't Get Played: A How-to Guide for Navigating Conversations around Student Betting
Insight into the Associate VP role: Career Moves, Lessons Learned, and Leadership Insights
Is This Worth My Time? Insights into Men's Engagement Patterns at Carolina
Micro-Breaks that Fit Your Workday
Not-So-Secret Transfer Agent: Discovering Your Role in the Transfer Student Experience
Recognize, Report, Support: Building Capacity for Hazing Prevention and Response
Roots & Wings: Advancing Inclusive Leadership Practices through Intentional Impact & Collaboration
Sparking Students' Curiosity: Small Changes, Big Engagement
The Curious Conflict: Transforming Workplace Conflict into Connection
The Hiring Lens: What Today's Employers Value Most
The Power of Connection: What Great Relational Leaders Do Differently
The Psychology of Curiosity in Design
Turning Content into Connection: The @UofSCStudents Playbook
What does campus accessibility look like? Applying stadium service concepts to enhance the experience for students with disabilities

Tentative schedule for Thursday, July 23rd:

Time	Event
8:00 - 9:00am	Breakfast & Check In
9:00 - 10:15am	Opening Remarks & Keynote
10:15 - 10:30am	Break
10:30 - 10:50am	Lightning Session 1
10:50 - 11:00am	Break
11:00 - 11:45am	Breakout Session 1
11:45am - 12:45pm	Lunch
12:45 - 12:55pm	Break
12:55 - 1:40pm	Breakout Session 2
1:40 - 1:55pm	Break
1:55 - 2:40pm	Breakout Session 3
2:40 - 3:05pm	Snack Break
3:05 - 3:25pm	Lightning Session 2
3:25 - 4:00pm	Wrap Up & Door Prizes

Tentative schedule for Friday, July 24th:

Time	Event
8:00 - 9:00am	Breakfast & Check In
9:00 - 9:45am	Breakout Session 1
9:45 - 9:55am	Break
9:55 - 10:40am	Breakout Session 2
10:40 - 10:50	Break
10:50 - 11:35am	Breakout Session 3
11:35am - 12:35pm	Lunch
12:35 - 12:45pm	Break
12:45 - 1:05pm	Lightning Session 1
1:05 - 1:20pm	Break
1:20 - 1:40pm	Lightning Session 2
1:40 - 2:05pm	Snack Break
2:05 - 3:20pm	Closing Keynote & Remarks
3:20 - 4:00pm	Wrap Up & Door Prizes

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to anticipated increased attendance, participation will be limited to one day.

Thursday, July 23rd or Friday, July 24th
8:00am - 4:00pm each day

With the exception of the opening and closing keynote addresses, the same concurrent sessions will be offered on both Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th to allow attendees to pick the day that is most convenient for their schedule.

Student Affairs and Academic Support employees: Registration provided at no cost, with priority access
USC Columbia (non-Student Affairs and Academic Support employees) and USC System campuses: $70
Midlands higher education institutions: $80
Presenters: Registration fee waived

If your organization will purchase more than one conference registration, each attendee must still submit an individual registration form using the same order number.

Student Affairs and Academic Support