Support Services

Critical ancillary services are available to enhance student life and the education, research and service missions of MUSC for faculty and students.

Division of Education and Student Services

The Division of Education and Student Services is dedicated to fostering the academic success and development of health professionals by providing exemplary educational and student support services through its Offices of Enrollment Management, Academic Support Services, Student Health and Wellness, Student Programs and Educational Technology Services. The Division is directed by the Associate Provost for Education and Student Life.

Office of Enrollment Management

In close coordination with each of the six University colleges, the Office of Enrollment Management processes all admission applications; manages matriculation; handles registration and academic records (grade recording and transcripts); processes financial aid requests; conducts degree audits for graduation; manages commencement; and reports academic information to state education offices.

Academic Support Services

Center for Academic Excellence

The Center for Academic Excellence offers academic support through one-on-one course-specific instruction, study group sessions, and critical thinking/study/test-taking skills workshops to students in all six colleges at MUSC. With an assigned course-specific instructor, students can discuss key concepts, extract important information from the text, review class notes, prepare for exams, and compose essays or papers assigned in the course syllabus. In study group sessions or workshops, students can learn skills for improving time management, taking notes more effectively, remembering what they read in the textbook, and preparing for exams more efficiently. Macintosh and IBM computers are available for student use. Call (843) 792-6390 for assistance.

Writing Center

The Writing Center offers assistance in writing through use of constructive dialogue and one-on-one collaboration. Computers and educational materials, as well as trained personnel experienced in teaching composition and rhetoric, are available at no charge to all MUSC students. Macintosh and IBM computers are available for student use. Call (843) 792-6390 for assistance.

Student Health and Wellness

Counseling and Psychological Services

This service provides an integral component of professional development by addressing the personal issues of university students. The professional staff offers services that include individual counseling, educational and study skill development, couples and group counseling, and referral for other services as needed. Services are covered by the student services fee and students rights to confidentiality are strictly safeguarded.

Health Services

Student Health Services provides ambulatory health care to all University students. Services include outpatient treatment for acute and chronic illnesses, preventive health care, and health education. Services are available to all full-time students who are actively enrolled in semester course work and part-time students who have paid the student services fee.

Prior to enrollment, all incoming students, both full-time and part-time, are required to complete a medical history form, provide proof of immunization or immunity to rubeola (must have received two live rubeola vaccines), rubella, varicella (chicken pox), and tetanus/diphtheria. In addition, students must provide proof of having an intradermal tuberculin skin test within the three months prior to enrollment. If these requirements are not met, students will be dropped from enrollment.

All Medical University students are required to carry health insurance. Students have the option of continuing coverage under their parents or spouse’s policy, purchasing a private policy, or obtaining coverage upon arrival.

Wellness Center

The Harper Student Wellness Center provides students a place to congregate and participate in social, recreational, and educational activities. A variety of health services is offered to promote wellness attitudes and practices among future health professionals.  State-of-the-art facilities include a 3,000 square foot aerobics studio; tennis; racquetball; and squash courts; a full-size gymnasium; indoor/outdoor running tracks; comprehensive cardiovascular and strength training areas; an Olympic-size swimming pool; and a student lounge.

A variety of wellness programs, classes, and short courses is offered. The Human Performance Laboratory, located in the Harper Student Wellness Center, provides fitness evaluations including assessment of body composition, muscular strength, pulmonary function, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. Research projects which can help students meet course work requirements as well as increase knowledge in preventative health care methods are also available as part of the Human Performance Laboratory.

Student Programs

Office of Student Diversity

The Office of Student Diversity collaborates with the MUSC community to promote an inclusive environment that fosters intellectual excellence and the true integration of a diverse student body into all aspects of academic life. The mission of the Office of Student Diversity is to promote an inclusive environment for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age ability, or socio-economic status. The Office meets it mission through its programming and support of various student organizations, including the Multicultural Student Advisory Board, the Alliance for Hispanic Health, the Gay Straight Alliance and the International Student Association.  The goals of the office are to facilitate the academic success of students as they transition into and through health professions and biomedical sciences programs; to augment the unique values and interests of diverse student groups while encouraging community building and collaboration with the entire student body; to serve as a catalyst in building and promoting effective relationships with the six colleges, assisting with the on-campus recruitment, retention, and graduation of a more diverse health care workforce; to promote diversity education, awareness and community enhancement in collaboration with the Division of Education and Student  Services and to provide comprehensive programs and services that enhance the quality of every student's life.

Student Activities

In close conjunction with the Student Government Association and college student organizations, the Student Activities staff works to provide students and the MUSC community with a varied calendar of social, recreational, and cultural events. University-wide and college-related student organizations offer students the opportunity to develop their leadership/management skills; to serve their fellow students, the Charleston community, and/or their profession; to explore new and old interests; and simply have a good time with other involved students, staff, and faculty.

Programs include: a five-sport intramural competition in flag football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball; tennis tournaments; canoe and fishing trips; oyster roasts; harbor cruises; band parties; art exhibitions; and many more opportunities to take advantage of the wealth of cultural and recreational resources in the Charleston area.

Publications from the Student Activities office include the Student Handbook, the Student Telephone Directory, and Student Lifelines, a bi-weekly University activities newsletter.  Semester Highlights is managed as an online resource.

The Student Activities office provides information about the Medical University and local resources available to the students, some at discounted rates. The staff also functions in the role of ombudsman and advocate for students who encounter difficulties in non-academic areas.

International Programs

The Office of International Programs assists international students with making the adjustment to living in the United States.  Multicultural programs and events to promote understanding of cultural diversity are managed through this office.

Housing

The Off-Campus Housing Office assists students in finding suitable housing in the Charleston area. The office is located in the Harper Student Wellness Center. The University does not provide on-campus dormitory housing, but this office has up-to-date listings of houses, apartments, and rooms for rent as well as lists of individuals looking for roommates. Other services offered by the housing office include: individual housing counseling, roommate finder parties, free legal assistance, Charleston area information, telephone for local calls, large wall map of the Charleston area, Apartment Finder Guides, and information on average rental and utility rates.

Volunteer Opportunities:  MUSC Gives Back

The MUSC GIVES BACK Student Community Volunteer Program provides assistance to individual students, groups, or service organizations in selecting, organizing, and implementing student volunteer activities. By careful development of volunteer activities, experiences are provided that directly impact the students success as health professionals by allowing them to observe and address health care problems in the community they will ultimately serve. The MUSC GIVES BACK office has information on local volunteer-based organizations that have indicated a specific need for help from University students.

Educational Technology Services

This unit provides technology support for the academic mission of the university through oversight and management of technology innovations for education, including technology services in centrally scheduled classrooms, oversight and management of distance education technologies, and provision of video and digital imaging services.

Library

The MUSC Library is on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Education Center/Library Building located on Ashley Avenue between the Clinical Sciences and Basic Science Buildings. The mission of the Library is to meet the information needs of faculty, staff and students of the University and to support the curriculum, research, and patient care goals of MUSC. The Library serves as a major medical resource library within the state, and within local, regional, and national networks.

The Library's collection exceeds 209,000 bound volumes and includes subscriptions to over 293 journals and to over 15,500 electronic journals. MUSCLS, the MUSC Library System, is a collection of online resources that include an index to the Library?s collections, bibliographic databases (article indexes), a gateway to collections and databases of other libraries, and a broad array of information services and resources. These resources are accessible from workstations located on each floor of the Library, as well as, from home or office.

A wide array or general purpose software and communications programs, Web search tools, educational software programs, and scanning capabilities are available on the fourth floor of the Library. Macintosh and Windows systems are available for classroom and independent use. Study carrels and tables are located throughout the Library and eight enclosed rooms for student group study are available on the third floor. The Library’s 24/7 Room offers 2700 sq. ft. of independent, group, and casual study space to students 24 hour a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Library faculty and staff are available to assist users in the location of information, to provide instruction in the use of various resources, and to educate users in the process of information access and retrieval.

Student Accounting

The functions of the Student Accounting Office are loan distribution and fee collections. All loans, grants, scholarships, and college work study funds are disbursed through the Student Accounting Office. This office also manages repayment of all student loans except for guaranteed student loans and health education assistance loans.

Questions pertaining to tuition and fee accounting, tuition payment plans, refunds, and late fee waivers can be answered in the Student Accounting Office.

Campus Ministry

Ministers from a variety of denominations make themselves available to university students and plan fellowship opportunities on campus.

Students with Disabilities

Since the mid-1970's, the Medical University has been concerned that the needs of disabled students are addressed. In a supportive environment, students with disabilities are encouraged to work toward an independent lifestyle and to become self-sufficient. Students with disabilities who seek accommodation may file their request with the dean of their college.

Students of the Medical University of South Carolina are protected from discrimination on the basis of disability. Students who believe they have been discriminated against may make a claim that their rights have been denied. This claim or complaint may be filed with the Wally Bonaparte, Director of the Office of the EEO/AA Charleston, South Carolina 29425, (843) 792-1568. Complainants will be asked to write down the actions, policies, or practices which they believe are discriminatory. Help is available from the Office of Diversity.

Complaints should include the following:

The exact nature of the complaint -- how complainants believe they may have been discriminated against, and any person they believe may be responsible;

The date, time, and place of the incident;

The names of witnesses or persons who have knowledge about the incident;

Any available written documentation or evidence that is relevant to the complaint;

The actions that could be taken to correct the violation.

If there is agreement that the complainant was discriminated against, corrective action will be taken to restore complainants rights. If there is not agreement, appeals may be made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost or his or her designee.

Students may also file a complaint of illegal discrimination with the Regional Civil Rights Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region IV, 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 19T70, Atlanta, GA 30303, at the same time the complaint is filed, during or after use of the complaint process, or without using the complaint process at all.

To discuss their rights under Title IX, ADA and Section 504, to obtain a copy of the complaint procedures, or to obtain help in filing a complaint, students should contact Wally Bonaparte, Director of the Office of the EEO/AA Charleston, South Carolina 29425, (843) 792-2146. .

Student Employment

This service provides assistance to students in locating part-time and full-time employment both on-campus and off-campus during the academic year and during periods of non-enrollment. This service and the Federal Work Study Program are coordinated through the office of Student Financial Aid Services.

International Support Services

The Office of International Support Services assists students with immigration and visa matters, U.S. tax preparation/forms, temporary housing, host-family applications, and problems and questions regarding the Charleston area and living in the United States.

The Alumni Association

The first suggestion for an alumni association for the Medical College of the State of South Carolina was made by the class of 1876. However, it was not until 1892 that an association was organized, a constitution adopted, and officers were elected. The initial organization had 75 members and a bank balance of $290.

Through the years, this fledgling group expanded as the Schools of Pharmacy and Nursing (now colleges) developed active alumni bodies and, in more recent years, as the Colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions, and Dental Medicine came into existence. The Association has evolved with the institution, and its current structure, adopted in 1982, is composed of a separate association for each of the six colleges with a joint board setting general alumni association policy.

The Medical University's alumni have been a major source of support, both moral and financial, throughout the institution's history. Perhaps the most notable instances were in 1913 when alumni rallied behind administration and faculty to achieve the passage of state legislation needed to ensure the school's continued operation and again in the 1950s when land and facilities were desperately needed for campus expansion. In recognition of this latter effort, the University's dormitory facility (which has since been converted to office space) was appropriately named the Alumni Memorial House.

The Medical University of South Carolina's alumni constituency currently numbers more than 25,000, and a major goal of the Alumni Association continues to be the betterment of the University.