What is the USC Welcome Experience?

Intentional Programs hosted within the first 6 weeks of each semester to support student needs as they become acclimated and need support.

Create opportunities for students to:

• Investigate intellectual and educational goals.
• Discover wellness models and promote a safe and healthy lifestyle where individuals and communities thrive.
• Explore curricular and co-curricular activities, resources, and services that support a successful transition to USC.
• Engage in interactions designed to build and maintain relationships through supportive dialogues that promote self-reflection, critical thinking and appreciation of individual differences.

Sense of Belonging:

• Students make connections to peers, staff, faculty and their environment and build support networks to ensure their success throughout their first semester and through graduation.
• Intentional programming to support student needs as they become acclimated and need support. A combination of academic and co-curricular efforts across the university.
• Leverage existing “spaces” to build community
  • Student Equity and Inclusion Programs – lounges, group discussions, identity based gatherings
  • Office of Religious and Spiritual Life – Mindful USC, Campfires, faith based identities
  • Recognized Student Organizations – conversations, mentorship, leadership development
  • Social Media and Slack groups – topic/theme based communities for conversation and idea generation

Hosting Welcome Experience Events

Spring 2020 Welcome Experience Dates:

• January 11 – February 20, 2020

Types of Events to consider:

• Community Conversations
• Trivia Games
• Lunch & Learn
• Networking Opportunities with alumni, professors, professionals
• Craft Workshops
• Wellness Workshops

Promotion:

• Submit each event to calendar.usc.edu
  • USC Calendar How to (visual guide)

  • To Add Events to the USC Calendar
    1. Navigate to calendar.usc.edu
    2. Click on “Submit Event” in the top right of the page
    3. Login with USC credentials and follow the form prompts
    4. Event Type: select “Welcome Experience”
    5. Department field: select your department AND Student Affairs
    6. Hashtag Field: Add #welcometoUSC in addition to any other department hashtags
    7. In event description, indicate if an event is open to families to attend
    Each event is reviewed and approved before it appears on the calendar.

• Recognized Student Organizations & Student Affairs Departments should also submit events to EngageSC.
  • EngageSC Event Submission How to (visual guide)
• Marketing Materials:
  • Add the Welcome Experience logo to your graphics
  • Sample Graphics and Templates

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Space Reservations:

• If in person events are allowed, remember to reserve space with the appropriate department. Each department will provide information about capacities, protocols, etc as it becomes available.
• Trojan Event Services manages space reservations for TCC, Bovard Auditorium, Ground Zero, Tommy’s Place and most outdoor spaces.
  • For spaces not managed by Trojan Events, contact the respective academic unit in which that space resides.

Additional Considerations:

• Consider hosting virtual events on different platforms (Zoom, Instagram Live, Facebook, Remo, Youtube, etc).
• If gatherings are allowed:
  • Hand Sanitizer Stations
  • Individually packaged food/beverage
  • Pre-registration and check in for attendees
• Student Affairs Advertising and Marketing
  • Looking for sponsors for an event? Student Affairs Advertising and Marketing can help identify and secure sponsorships. Contact the team for more information! Alex Cuevas (alex.cuevas@usc.edu).

For questions please contact: stuacts@usc.edu