Hi Everyone - It’s New Year’s Eve, and while the countdown to midnight is on, here at Dean’s List, we don’t take holidays when it comes to keeping you in the loop! While you’re planning your resolutions and celebrations, we’ve been hard at work putting together this week’s update for the University of South Carolina:

On the docket:

• Gamecocks Take on Illinois in the Citrus Bowl Today

• A Reminder for Parents: Course Drop and Add Deadlines at USC

• USC Welcomes New Athletic Director

Gamecocks Take on Illinois in the Citrus Bowl Today

Today’s the day! USC Football is taking on Illinois in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at 3 PM ET in Orlando, airing on ABC. Both teams are 9-3, and it’s the first time they’ve played each other. If you’re lucky enough to be there in person, I’m definitely jealous!

It’s been an incredible season for the Gamecocks, and Coach Beamer and the team are aiming for their 10th win. It’s sure to be an exciting game.

If you’re not in Orlando, be sure to watch on ABC and cheer on the Gamecocks!

A Reminder for Parents: Course Drop and Add Deadlines at USC

As the semester kicks off on January 13th, remind your student that it’s not too late to tweak their schedule if they’re feeling less-than-thrilled about it. Course openings pop up like magic (okay, maybe just like procrastinating seniors dropping classes) during the break and even into syllabus week. Students have until the last day to make changes without that dreaded “W” on their transcript, so there’s plenty of time to make adjustments.

Syllabus week is basically the "first date" with their schedule—a chance to see if it’s a match or if they need to swipe left on a class or two. And trust me, as a senior who’s trying to juggle their final semester and figure out post-grad plans, finding a balance between academic goals and personal sanity is key.

Reassure your student that it’s totally normal to rearrange things. In fact, those newly opened spots during syllabus week might be the ticket to a dream class—or at least one that doesn’t meet at 8 a.m. A little proactive planning now can set them up for a smooth and successful spring at USC. Go Gamecocks!

USC Welcomes New Athletic Director

Big news for Gamecock Nation—USC is shaking things up in the athletic department by bringing in TCU’s Jeremiah Donati as the new athletic director. Donati’s got some serious street cred, with a resume that includes managing $500 million in facility upgrades at TCU. Basically, if this guy’s past is any indication, we might finally get that snack bar upgrade at Williams-Brice (wishful thinking, but a senior can dream).

Donati is signing on for a six-year stint, so it looks like he’s all in on making USC a powerhouse in college athletics. As a senior, I’m pumped to see someone coming in with fresh ideas and a proven track record to keep pushing our athletic programs forward.

Here’s to a new chapter in Gamecock athletics—let’s hope it’s one for the record books!