Faculty
The recent events on campus have been challenging and disruptive for us all. We also have heard from many students who are concerned about their safety on campus and/or their ability to focus on final exams, projects, and assignments. It is important that we be ready to support all of our students through the exam period.
To that end, we have put in place an enhanced accommodations protocol, similar to what was used during COVID. Should a student reach out to you requesting accommodations during finals season, I ask that you please work with them during this difficult time. USC offers academic accommodations which may include extended deadlines, Incompletes, or adjusting the parameters of final assessments.
Please also encourage students to touch base with their academic advisor via the Advise USC portal. Questions regarding grading can be directed to the University Registrar at registrar@usc.edu . Students in need of mental health resources can access them via USC Student Health. Students looking to navigate complex situations can be connected to Campus Support and Intervention.
We do not have any particular indication that exams will be disrupted. To be prepared, we are assessing final exam schedules and locations. Please also ensure that the exam proctor is able to reach you during the exam time. In the unlikely event that an in-person exam is disrupted due to noise or protest, you may use your discretion to determine whether it has to be relocated or abandoned. Should that be the case, you may also use your discretion to make alternative arrangements for assessing final grades, such as calculating the final grade based on work submitted to date. Please note that if you choose this option, you should provide an opportunity for students who were hoping to raise their grade via the final to submit additional graded work.
If appropriate, you may also wish to consider moving your final exam online.
Please reach out to me directly if you have questions. Thank you for your empathy and consideration.
Andrew McConnell Stott
Vice Provost for Academic Programs
Dean of the USC Graduate School
Professor of English