If you ever get to have lunch with Art Farlowe, there’s a good chance you’ll have this experience: Another patron approaches your table and says to him, with great enthusiasm, “You were my advisor!”

After 32 years of service to the state of South Carolina, 20 of which were in the College of Information and Communications, it’s no surprise that Farlowe is something of a minor celebrity around Columbia. He has been an academic advisor for approximately 3,000 students after all.

“Throughout his career, Art has been a steadfast advocate for students and has played an instrumental role in supporting student success across the college,” says Assistant Dean for Student Success Rushondra James.

At a retirement reception on Tuesday, May 12, James announced the inaugural Art Farlowe CIC Student Success Award. This new award will honor Farlowe’s legacy by recognizing an undergraduate graduating senior who exemplifies perseverance, resilience, engagement, personal growth and commitment to academic success.

Farlowe’s impact on a student success primarily comes in the form of genuine caring and attentive listening. He considers the enduring bonds he forged with students over the years his greatest accomplishment at USC.

“Having the students who I still hear from occasionally who will mention something that we did, and to think, ‘Wow, somebody from 20 years ago even still remembers who I am.’ I think that's what really sticks with me the most.”

Alumnus Collyn Taylor (2017, journalism) recalls Farlowe as an exceptional advisor whose commitment to students helped define the college experience for generations of Gamecocks.

“Rarely do people become synonymous with the places they work, but Art was the College of Information and Communications, and it won’t be the same without him," Taylor says. "His walks through the college probably take twice as long as they should because he’s constantly stopping to talk with students, faculty and staff to catch up. That’s a testament to Art and the kind of person he is with everyone he meets. Art left this place better than he found it.”

Farlowe has also been a valuable resource for new advisors joining the college, offering encouragement and advice.

“They're not going to remember the forms that you did or the time you gave them an override. It's the times you really took to get to know the person. That is what's important,” Farlowe says.

For the students yet to come, Farlowe offers this advice: “Find your tribe. Find people who you have things in common with, who you enjoy being with. Stay friends with them, support each other and that group will last for the rest of your life.”

To fully understand Farlowe’s decades of dedication to students at USC, it’s helpful to know how it started.

“I came to school here in 1984 and loved it. It's the first place I'd ever gone to school — elementary, high school, college — where I loved it right off the bat,” says Farlowe. “Every other place I'd ever gone. It took a year or so. But there's just something about here I've always loved. I guess I was just meant to be a Gamecock.”