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 2022 Welcome Experience Dates:
- January 7 – February 19
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)
- 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
- Sustainability
- Looking to reduce the environmental footprint of your events? Check out these tips for how to make your event more sustainable.
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.
- 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