September 7, 2023
It is wonderful to see everyone at the university for the fall semester. Whether you are new to USC or returning for another year, we hope the beginning of academic year means making new connections, building community, and setting intentions for your well-being and success.
At USC, we are guided by our Unifying Values, which are embodied in the USC Student commitment and featured in our student handbook.
In line with our Unifying Values, we all have the responsibility to review Living Our Unifying Values: The USC Student Handbook each year. This document contains important policies that apply during your time as a student, including rules regarding academic integrity, student organizations, and safety.
Our student conduct processes focus on education and supporting your next steps to be successful in your personal, academic, and professional lives at USC. Each year offices and academic departments across the entire university review and assess the policies in the handbook. After careful review, the university makes changes to improve efficiency and transparency.
The most recent updates include:
• Expanding the definition of a student.
• Updating the reporting out protocol for student conduct records.
• More detailed requirements for recognized student organizations.
Please be sure to sure to review the USC Student Handbook for reminders about student behavior and rights and make sure you are familiar with the Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) and Office of Community Expectations (OCE). Policies for addressing prohibited discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, are the purview of the Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX.
Thank you for carefully reviewing the handbook and for striving to act with integrity as Trojans.
We look forward to meeting you in our community and academic spaces and wish you success during the fall semester.
Sincerely,
Monique S. Allard, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Life
Andrew McConnell Stott, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Dean of the Graduate School