October 3, 2025
Dear Trojan Family,
On Wednesday evening, USC received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education inviting us to provide feedback on a draft Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.
The draft covers a number of issues that I believe are important to study and discuss. I have already heard from several members of our community, and in the weeks ahead, I will be consulting with the Board of Trustees; the deans and leadership team; and members of the Academic Senate, the Academic Freedom Task Force, the President’s Faculty Advisory Committee, and other stakeholder groups to hear their wide-ranging perspectives. These conversations can take time, but they are essential to building trust and community.
In this moment, and in all others, the Board’s and my responsibility is to advance USC’s mission and uphold our core values, and we are committed to doing just that.
Fight On!
Beong-Soo Kim
Interim President