January 13, 2026
Dear USC Students, Faculty, and Staff,
As we begin the Spring 2026 semester, I am excited to announce that active USC students, faculty, and staff can now explore generative artificial intelligence with USC’s ChatGPT Edu workspace. Over the next few days, you will receive an invitation from OpenAI to activate your ChatGPT Edu account.
This initiative reflects USC’s commitment to leading in the responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence. ChatGPT Edu provides a protected, USC-only space where our community can explore, learn, teach, research, and work with AI in ways that align with integrity, privacy, and academic excellence.
Three actions you can take to get started:
- Use your USC NetID to log in here. If you already have a ChatGPT account, you will receive instructions on how to migrate to ChatGPT Edu.
- Explore training and resources on using ChatGPT Edu at USC.
- Faculty are encouraged to use the AI in Education resources available from the Center for Excellence in Teaching, including signing up for the AI in Education institute, launching Jan. 29 and 30.
- Once you activate your account, you will have secure and unlimited access to core features (i.e.,ChatGPT 5.2). Additional information related to advanced features and API access will be released at a later date.
We encourage you to review USC’s Generative AI Policy along with USC’s Data Privacy and Protection Policy and USC’s Acceptable Use Policy which govern the use of all technologies at USC.
We invite you to explore the work already being done to leverage this technology responsibly and creatively with AI at USC, including information on upcoming events.
Please contact ITS if you experience any issues logging in.
Thank you, and fight on!
Midhat Asghar
Interim Chief Information Officer | Office of the CIO
Information Technology Services