March 5, 2021
Dear Trojan Community,
We are pleased to share that, as expected, Los Angeles County this week released new guidelines that allow us to increase campus activity. Beginning immediately, we are pivoting to offer a number of recreational and academic opportunities for students living near our campuses.
We have been diligently preparing for these activities to resume by making space modifications, developing associated safety protocols in adherence with public health guidance, and ensuring we can accurately complete contact tracing when necessary.
The following activities will open in a staggered sequence over the coming weeks:
• Cromwell Field and our outdoor tennis practice courts are now open, using a reservation system. Please refer to bit.ly/uscoutdoorvenues for the latest updates on what spaces are available to reserve.
• School-operated outdoor canopies for small, socially-distanced groups are available to support instruction; music and dance practice rooms, studios, and maker spaces are also opening for limited use. Please look for additional information from your school or college.
• USC Libraries: On March 15, Leavey Library will begin opening for independent study and Doheny Library will open only for conducting research using the library’s archival and special collections. Both libraries will operate at reduced capacity and reservations will be required to access the buildings. Further openings will be phased over the spring and summer, including libraries on the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. Information about how to make a reservation will be published next week. Please contact library.communications@usc.edu with questions.
To access these newly reopened campus resources, students, faculty and staff are required to make advance reservations, in addition to completing their daily Trojan Check and all associated requirements including completing COVID training through Trojan Learn, receiving an influenza vaccine, completing a daily wellness assessment, and complying with COVID testing requirements.
We expect everyone using these facilities to adhere to the posted behavior guidelines. All areas will undergo thorough cleanings throughout the day. You can learn more about the university’s COVID-19 health and safety policies here.
We are grateful that public health conditions continue to improve in Los Angeles County. To ensure that this positive trajectory continues, and that the expanded facilities we are reopening remain available, we urge all of you to remain vigilant, and continue to wear facial coverings and maintain physical distance. It is because of your diligence in following public health recommendations that we are able to take the important steps we are announcing today.
Because the CDC and California health authorities continue to recommend that you not travel at this time, we ask that only students who are currently living in the communities adjacent to our campuses utilize these facilities.
Current public health guidance remains that if you can work from home, you should continue to do so. We are expecting restrictions will ease as the rates of transmission continue to drop. We hope to expand campus activities even further in the coming weeks and look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus in Fall 2021. Please refer to the links included above for the latest updates.
Stay safe, be well, and Fight On!
Charles F. Zukoski, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
David W. Wright, Senior Vice President for Administration
Winston B. Crisp, Vice President for Student Affairs