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

Fall 2021 Welcome Experience Dates:

• August 14 – October 2nd, 2021

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. Tag Field (for calendar admins): add “SAWW”
    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 Calendar 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.

Accessible Programs and Content

• Ensuring all participants can fully access your events is crucial to ensuring an equitable experience for all.
• USC’s Disability Services and Programs office has created helpful guides to help you create accessible content and host accessible programs.
  • Creating Accessible Events
• Event planners should include in their materials the following event accessibility statement:
  • “Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact [insert event sponsor’s name, phone, and email address].  It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event.  Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.”

For questions please contact: stuacts@usc.edu