Beginning today, March 11th and continuing through Sunday, March 29th, all USC lecture, quiz, and discussion sections will be moved online. Lab courses will meet as scheduled through March 13th. The current assumption is that lab courses will also move online beginning on March 14th and continuing through March 29th. Should this change, we will update as soon as possible. We currently are working with university officials to determine how the move to online course instruction will impact those of you who are currently Teaching Assistants. As soon as any decision has been made in this regard, I will update you on your responsibilities.
Research
All research staff and graduate students should continue to work in their labs at this time, while following recommended USC practices related to minimizing the impact of COVID 19. These practices include things such as staying home if you are sick, not shaking hands, practicing good hygiene and practicing social distancing. More detailed information regarding research practices may be found here.
Travel
All non-essential travel for faculty, staff, and graduate students is suspended until further notice. Essential travel must be approved in advance to be reimbursed. If you have incurred costs related to the cancellation of travel due to cancellations of conferences or meetings, you may still be able to be reimbursed. Details on what will be considered essential travel and how to be reimbursed for any incurred expenses may be found here.
Qualifying Exams, Dissertation Defenses, and Graduate School Petitions
The USC Graduate School has issued temporary policy related to oral qualifying exams and dissertation defenses. Both may now take place remotely, with prior approval from the student, committee chair, and dean of the school. Here is the specific language related to this policy from the Graduate School:
How can I defend my dissertation if COVID-19 affects my ability to meet with my dissertation committee in person?
Remote participation in a dissertation or thesis defense is always an option for a limited number of committee members. With the approval of the student, committee chair, and the dean of the school, the defense can be conducted entirely through Zoom or other videoconferencing tool. The standard rules apply to the defense. This means that all committee members must be part of the same defense “meeting,” whether they are on campus or remote.
How can I submit my dissertation if COVID-19 affects my ability to function on campus?
Dissertation checklists and manuscripts are submitted electronically via Thesis Center (http://graduateschool.usc.edu/current-students/thesis-dissertation-submission/) and are not affected by the location of the student.
How can I take the oral portion of my qualifying exam if COVID-19 affects my ability to meet with my exam committee?
Remote participation in the oral portion of a qualifying exam is always an option for a limited number of committee members. With the approval of the student, committee chair, and the dean of the school, the defense can be conducted entirely through Zoom or other videoconferencing tool. The standard rules apply to the exam. This means that all committee members must be part of the same exam “meeting,” whether they are on campus or remote.
How can my advisor submit an academic petition on my behalf to the Graduate School if COVID-19 affects the university’s functions on campus?
Petitions are submitted by advisors online and are not affected by the location of the student or the advisor.
Student-Organized Events
Effective immediately and until further notice (at least through March 29th), all university-sponsored events, including any event organized by a Registered Student Organization, are suspended. We ask that you cancel any events currently scheduled and plan to reschedule them, if desired, sometime later in the semester, after March 29th.
We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and share with you any updates that are impactful to you, your classes, your TA/RAships, and your research.
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