Academic Support Services

The office provides assistance to students with disabilities and students experiencing academic difficulty. Academic Support Services encompasses Student Disability Services, Freshman Resources, and the Learning Center. Orientation programs are also coordinated through this office in collaboration with Schools, Colleges, and University Life. It is located in Gleeson Lower Level 20. The phone number is (415) 422-6876.

Freshman Resources Office

The Freshman Resources Office staff help new and currently enrolled freshmen adjust to their first year of college by acquainting them with the resources available at USF. The Office collaborates with various departments to design and implement services and programs that facilitate the transition from high school to college.

Students can meet with the Freshman Resources Coordinator if they need tools or techniques on how to achieve academic success. Students are welcome to stop by or call with any questions or concerns regarding their first-year experience. Or they may e-mail firstyear@usfca.edu. The Freshman Resources Office is located in Gleeson Lower Level 20. The phone number is (415) 422-6876.

College Success Courses

College Success Courses are one- or two-unit interdisciplinary courses open to all students.

The first class covers strategies for success and critical thinking. Students in this class get to know campus resources, and explore personal learning styles and goals. Course topics include time management techniques, test-taking strategies, money management, memorization strategies, health and wellness issues, note-taking methods and other essential strategies to facilitate success. Students will also develop analytical skills and learn to think at a higher level about textbooks, lectures, contemporary issues, and the media.

In the other course, "Exploring Majors and Careers," students examine interests, skills, values, and goals and explore major and career options. They will learn how to use this information to begin to chart a personal career path.

The College Success Courses are cross-listed in the course schedule under the College of Arts and Sciences (department of interdisciplinary studies), the School of Nursing, and the McLaren College of Business; the course numbers 50, 52 and 53 are the same in each school or college. If you have questions about the College Success courses, please contact the Freshmen Resources Coordinator at (415) 422-2842.

Student Disability Services

Student Disability Services strives to promote a fully integrated University experience for students with disabilities by ensuring that students have equal access to all areas of University life. Student Disability Services provides academic accommodations.

Common examples of reasonable accommodations may include but are not limited to provision of materials in alternative format, exam accommodations, note-taking services, reader services, sign-language interpreting and real-time captioning as supported by documentation of disability.

Contacts with Student Disability Services are private and confidential. Disability-related information will not be released without written consent of the student except on a need-to-know basis. For more information about Student Disability Services and other services available to students with disabilities, please contact:

Student Disability Services, Gleeson Lower Level Room 20, (415) 422-2613, (415) 422-5834 (v/tdd), (415) 422-5906 (fax)

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or by appointment.

Pre-Professional Advising

The Pre-Professional Advising Center in the Learning Center works with the University's Pre-Professional Health Committee to provide comprehensive pre-professional guidance in selecting professional schools, preparing application materials, and securing recommendations to professional schools - in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary medicine, and podiatry. The Center also provides linkage to professionals in various health-related fields and assists students in the development of a career file to use in applying to professional schools.

The Pre-Professional Advising Center is located in Cowell 227. The phone number is (415) 422-6841.

The Learning and Writing Center

The Learning Center provides individual and group tutoring for USF students free of charge during the Fall and Spring semesters. Learning Center staff members help students solve academic challenges, assist students interested in forming study groups, and facilitate workshops in study skills, time management, and other topics. The Learning Center also maintains a library of printed, video, and computer learning resources for student use.

The Writing Center is staffed by faculty members who work with students to help them improve their writing skills. Writing Center staff members provide feedback on students' writing and can tailor a program of instruction to meet individual needs. The Learning and Writing Center is located in Cowell 227. The Learning Center phone number is (415) 422-6713. The Writing Center phone number is (415) 422-6715.